# CVE-2026-123849: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA code execution via Terraform File Watchers

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123849-in-jetbrains-intellij-idea-before-2026-3-code-execution-was  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-06. Updated: 2026-11-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-123849 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-06

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA is a development environment used by software engineers to write and debug code. A vulnerability in its Terraform File Watchers feature allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a developer's machine when they open an untrusted project, potentially compromising the developer's system, source code, and credentials.

Technologies: [Jetbrains IntelliJ IDEA](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/intellij-idea). Vendors: [Jetbrains](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/jetbrains).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-123849 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-123849 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-123849?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 6 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Jetbrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-123849?** Yes: fixed in IntelliJ IDEA 2026.3. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-123849 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-123849?** Check whether you run Jetbrains IntelliJ IDEA at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in IntelliJ IDEA 2026.3

## Technical details

The Terraform File Watchers feature in IntelliJ IDEA before version 2026.3 fails to properly validate or sandbox execution of code from untrusted projects, allowing remote code execution when a developer opens a malicious project. An attacker can craft a project containing malicious Terraform configurations that execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the developer's IDE process.

## Affected products

- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.3

## Timeline

- 2026-11-06: disclosed
- 2026-11-06: patched

## References

- [https://www.jetbrains.com/privacy-security/issues-fixed/](https://www.jetbrains.com/privacy-security/issues-fixed/)

## Related threats

- [JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA code execution via JVM options in Safe Mode](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123853-in-jetbrains-intellij-idea-before-2026-3-2026-2-2-code-execution)
- [JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA TLS hostname verification missing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123848-in-jetbrains-intellij-idea-before-2026-3-host-name-verification)
- [JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA command execution via control characters in terminal completion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123847-in-jetbrains-intellij-idea-before-2026-3-command-execution-was)
- [JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA blind SSRF in JSON Schema validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123846-in-jetbrains-intellij-idea-before-2026-3-blind-ssrf-was-possible)
- [JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA server-side request forgery in plugin repositories](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123844-in-jetbrains-intellij-idea-before-2026-3-ssrf-was-possible-via)