CVE-2021-25758

Local code execution via workspace deserialization

Published Feb 3, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Insecure deserialization in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2020.3 allows local users to execute code through workspace-model data. JetBrains identifies the workspace model as the deserialization locus but has not disclosed the affected parser, serialized format, or validation failure. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and runs code in the security context of the affected IDE process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insecure deserialization in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2020.3 allows local users to execute code through workspace-model data. JetBrains identifies the workspace model as the deserialization locus but has not disclosed the affected parser, serialized format, or validation failure. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and runs code in the security context of the affected IDE process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25758
Published
Feb 3, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-502, CAPEC-586
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CAPEC-586Object Injection

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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