---
id: "CVE-2026-123842"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-123842"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-123842"]
title: "JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: symlinks in plugin archives let attackers write arbitrary files"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.1
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "other"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["ide", "intellij-idea", "java", "jetbrains", "other"]
not_affected_if: ["version-2026.3-or-later"]
published_at: "2026-11-06T17:17:22+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-06T17:43:13+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-06T17:45:10+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-123842", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-06T17:43:13+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: symlinks in plugin archives let attackers write arbitrary files

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-123842 (this .md is for agents)

Before IntelliJ IDEA 2026.3, extracting a plugin archive could follow symlinks and write files outside the intended folder. An attacker who supplies a crafted plugin archive can overwrite files on the developer's machine.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed IntelliJ IDEA version under Help > About (fixed in 2026.3 per the sources)

## Fix

- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: move to `2026.3` or later

## Timeline

- 2026-11-06T17:43:13+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-123842

## From the sources

In JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.3 arbitrary file write was possible via symlinks when extracting plugin archives

---

_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_