CVE-2022-40978

Code execution via installer search-order hijacking

Published Sep 19, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

EXE search-order hijacking in the Windows installer for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2022.2.2 allows local users to execute code. The installer searches for an executable through an uncontrolled path and launches a matching attacker-planted file instead of a trusted copy. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and another user to run the installer, granting code execution in the installer's security context.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

EXE search-order hijacking in the Windows installer for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2022.2.2 allows local users to execute code. The installer searches for an executable through an uncontrolled path and launches a matching attacker-planted file instead of a trusted copy. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and another user to run the installer, granting code execution in the installer's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-40978
Published
Sep 19, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
JetBrains
Product
IntelliJ IDEA
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 19, 2022CVE 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2022.2.2 <2022.2.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

JetBrains · IntelliJ IDEAversion=2022.2.2 <2022.2.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5JetBrainsCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

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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