CVE-2023-39261: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Space Plugin Requested Excessive Permissions Prior to Version 2023.2

CVE-2023-39261 refers to a vulnerability in the JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA that allowed the Space plugin to request excessive, potentially damaging permissions from users. This vulnerability existed in versions of IntelliJ IDEA prior to the 2023.2 release.

In this post, we will dive deep into the details of CVE-2023-39261, examining the potential risks it posed to users, the code snippet responsible for the excessive permissions, and how JetBrains finally addressed the issue with their update.

exploit details

The vulnerability in question primarily resided in the way the Space plugin requested permissions from users. It would ask for access to a user's files, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data. The excessive permissions request can be considered a security flaw, as it poses a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of users' data.

code snippet

The code snippet below serves as an example of how the Space plugin requested excessive permissions prior to version 2023.2:

import java.nio.file.Path;

//...

public class SpacePlugin {
    //...
    public void requestPermissions() {
        // Requesting excessive permissions from users
        for (Path path : sensitiveDirectories) {
            try {
                requestFileAccess(path);
            } catch (IOException e) {
                // Handle exception
            }
        }
    }

    //...
}

In this snippet, the requestPermissions() method would run a loop, attempting to request access to several sensitive directories containing users' data, potentially granting the plugin unauthorized access.

Here are links to the original references where further information on CVE-2023-39261 is available

- CVE-2023-39261 Details
- JetBrains Security Advisory

mitigating the issue

To resolve this vulnerability, JetBrains released the IntelliJ IDEA 2023.2 update. If you are running an older version of IntelliJ IDEA with the Space plugin, updating your software and plugin to the latest versions should mitigate the vulnerability. The update ensures that the Space plugin requests permissions in a more secure manner, asking for only those it truly needs to function, as shown in the updated code snippet below:

import java.nio.file.Path;

//...

public class SpacePlugin {
    //...
    public void requestPermissions() {
        // Requesting only necessary permissions, no excessive permissions requested
        for (Path path : necessaryDirectories) {
            try {
                requestFileAccess(path);
            } catch (IOException e) {
                // Handle exception
            }
        }
    }

    //...
}

This code requests permission only for "necessaryDirectories," reducing the risk of unauthorized access and ensuring better security for users.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-39261 presented a serious vulnerability in the JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, as the Space plugin requested excessive permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of user data. By updating both IntelliJ IDEA and the Space plugin to their latest versions, users can mitigate this security risk and continue using JetBrains software safely.

Timeline

Published on: 07/26/2023 13:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/02/2023 20:34:00 UTC