CVE-2019-9186 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In multiple versions of JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, a vulnerability in the default setting of the Spring Boot run configuration allowed remote code execution. The issue has been fixed in versions 2019.1, 2018.3.4, 2018.2.8, 2018.1.8, and 2017.3.7.

Understanding CVE-2019-9186

In several JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA versions, a vulnerability in the Spring Boot run configuration allowed remote attackers to execute code due to a misconfigured JMX server.

What is CVE-2019-9186?

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA that enabled remote code execution during the running of the Spring Boot configuration.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9186

The vulnerability allowed remote attackers to execute code while the configuration was running, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9186

The technical details of this CVE are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability was caused by a misconfiguration in the default setting of the Spring Boot run configuration.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions affected: 2019.1, 2018.3.4, 2018.2.8, 2018.1.8, and 2017.3.7.

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers could exploit the vulnerability by leveraging the misconfigured JMX server to execute code.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-9186, consider the following mitigation and prevention strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA to the fixed versions: 2019.1, 2018.3.4, 2018.2.8, 2018.1.8, or 2017.3.7.
Disable remote access to JMX servers if not required.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and apply security patches for all software components.
Implement network segmentation to restrict access to critical services.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all software components, including JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, are regularly updated with the latest security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.