AWS Issues Advisory for CVE-2026-11931 Insecure Permissions in Kiro IDE
An AWS security bulletin highlights a vulnerability in the Kiro IDE where insecure permissions on authentication token cache files could expose sensitive credentials.
Key points
- AWS has published a security bulletin regarding CVE-2026-11931, a vulnerability within the Kiro IDE.
- The issue stems from insecure permissions applied to the authentication token cache file.
- The advisory identifies the risk but does not confirm the availability of a patch or fix at this time.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has issued a security bulletin addressing CVE-2026-11931, a vulnerability affecting the Kiro IDE. The advisory, published under the identifier 2026-045-aws, warns that the integrated development environment contains a flaw related to insecure permissions on its authentication token cache file. This issue allows potentially unauthorized access to sensitive authentication data stored by the application.
The vulnerability is classified under the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system as CVE-2026-11931. According to the official advisory from AWS Security Bulletins, the core problem lies in how the Kiro IDE manages the permissions of the file used to cache authentication tokens. When permissions are set insecurely, other processes or users on the same system may be able to read the contents of this file. This could lead to the exposure of active authentication tokens, which are critical for maintaining secure sessions and accessing protected resources.
Context and Background
The publication of this bulletin serves as a formal notification to users and security professionals about the risk associated with the Kiro IDE. AWS Security Bulletins are designed to provide timely information about security issues affecting AWS products and services. By assigning a specific CVE ID, the vulnerability is tracked within the broader industry framework for standardizing vulnerability descriptions.
The nature of the flaw—incorrect file permissions—is a common class of security error in software development. Applications often create temporary or cache files to improve performance or maintain state. If these files are created with overly permissive settings, such as world-readable or group-readable attributes, they can become a vector for data leakage. In the case of Kiro IDE, the affected file contains authentication tokens, making it a high-value target for local attackers or malicious software operating on the same host.
Who Is Affected
Users of the Kiro IDE are the primary group affected by this vulnerability. Any individual or organization utilizing this development environment may have their authentication tokens exposed if the insecure permission settings are present in their installation. The risk is particularly acute in multi-user environments or systems where untrusted applications run with similar privilege levels to the IDE.
Security teams responsible for endpoint protection and developer tooling should be aware of this issue. The exposure of authentication tokens can facilitate further attacks, such as session hijacking or unauthorized access to cloud resources linked to the compromised credentials. Organizations that enforce strict security policies on development workstations should assess their exposure to this specific vulnerability.
What should you do?
The AWS security bulletin does not currently confirm the existence of a patch, update, or workaround for CVE-2026-11931. Users are advised to monitor official channels for further developments. In the interim, minimizing the attack surface by restricting access to the system running the Kiro IDE is recommended. Security professionals should review their incident response plans to ensure they are prepared to handle potential credential compromises arising from local file access issues.
What to do and how to stay safe: AWS
- Verify the installation status of the Kiro IDE on all development workstations to determine potential exposure.
- Review file permission policies on systems running the IDE to ensure that sensitive cache files are not accessible to unauthorized users or processes.
- Monitor authentication logs for unexpected activity that may indicate the use of exposed tokens.
- Await official guidance from AWS regarding a fix or mitigation steps for CVE-2026-11931.
Step-by-step guide: Risk Based Vulnerability Management: Prioritize Fixes by Actual Threat
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2026-11931?
CVE-2026-11931 is a vulnerability in the Kiro IDE caused by insecure permissions on the authentication token cache file.
Is there a patch available for this vulnerability?
No, the AWS security bulletin does not confirm that a fix or update has been released yet.
Which product is affected by this security issue?
The Kiro IDE is the product affected by this security issue, as identified in the AWS advisory.
