Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Some JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA versions could save JavaEE application server credentials in cleartext when developers created remote run configurations. This is mainly a credential-handling risk: anyone who can access those IDE configuration files may be able to read saved server credentials.
Executive priority
Treat this as a developer-environment credential exposure issue. Prioritize teams with production or privileged JavaEE server credentials saved in IntelliJ IDEA, especially where workstation files are backed up, synced, or shared.
Technical view
The CVE describes cleartext storage of JavaEE application server credentials in IntelliJ IDEA configuration files after remote run configuration creation. JetBrains states the issue was fixed in versions 2018.3.5, 2018.2.8, and 2018.1.8. No CVSS score or CWE is provided in the bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on developer workstations using affected IntelliJ IDEA 2018.1, 2018.2, or 2018.3 branch versions before the listed fixed releases, especially where IDE configuration files are synced, backed up, shared, or committed.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show active exploitation, KEV listing, exploit publication, or network-reachable attack surface. Abuse would require access to affected IDE configuration files that contain saved server credentials.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and JetBrains bulletin reference. The affected version ranges are not fully enumerated beyond the fixed releases, and no CVSS, CWE, or exploitation evidence is provided in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade IntelliJ IDEA to 2018.3.5, 2018.2.8, 2018.1.8, or a later fixed release.
- Check JetBrains guidance for any branch-specific remediation details.
- Identify exposed JavaEE server credentials and rotate them where file access may have occurred.
- Prevent IDE configuration files containing secrets from being committed, shared, or broadly synced.
Validation and detection
- Inventory IntelliJ IDEA versions used by developers who configure remote JavaEE application servers.
- Confirm affected installations are at or beyond the listed fixed versions.
- Review IDE configuration handling for cleartext JavaEE server credentials.
- Check repositories and shared storage for committed or copied IDE configuration files.
- Document any credential rotation decisions and residual exposure assumptions.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2019-9823 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://blog.jetbrains.com/blog/2019/06/19/jetbrains-security-bulletin-q1-2019/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.