CVE-2025-24461 Overview
CVE-2025-24461 is a missing authorization vulnerability in JetBrains TeamCity versions prior to 2024.12.1. The flaw resides in the Test Connection endpoint, which decrypted stored connection secrets without validating the caller's permissions. An authenticated user with low privileges can trigger the endpoint to reveal sensitive credentials associated with external service integrations. The issue is categorized under CWE-862: Missing Authorization and affects continuous integration pipelines that rely on TeamCity to store credentials for version control systems, cloud providers, and artifact registries.
Critical Impact
Low-privileged users can decrypt stored connection secrets, exposing credentials for integrated services and enabling further lateral movement within CI/CD environments.
Affected Products
- JetBrains TeamCity versions before 2024.12.1
- On-premises TeamCity server installations exposing the Test Connection endpoint
- CI/CD pipelines with stored connection secrets for external integrations
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-21 - CVE-2025-24461 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24461
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper authorization checks on the TeamCity Test Connection endpoint. This endpoint exists to validate configured connections to external systems such as source code repositories, cloud providers, and container registries. To perform the connection test, the server decrypts the stored secret associated with the connection and uses it to authenticate against the target service.
The server does not confirm that the caller holds the permissions required to view or manage the targeted connection. Any authenticated user able to reach the endpoint can request a Test Connection operation. The server performs the decryption and, through the resulting network interaction or error output, exposes credential material that should remain protected by role-based access control.
The issue falls under the authorization bypass category and specifically matches CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of a permission check in the Test Connection request handler. TeamCity's design assumes that only administrators and project configurators interact with connection objects, but the endpoint accepts requests from any authenticated session. The handler proceeds to decrypt the secret before verifying ownership or role membership.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the TeamCity server and a valid user account with low privileges. The attacker invokes the Test Connection endpoint against a connection they do not own, forcing the server to decrypt its secret. The exposed credential can then be used to authenticate to the integrated external service directly, extending the attack beyond the TeamCity instance.
No verified public proof-of-concept has been published for CVE-2025-24461. Refer to the JetBrains Security Issues Fixed page for vendor-published technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24461
Indicators of Compromise
- Repeated Test Connection requests originating from user accounts that do not own the targeted connection objects.
- Unexpected outbound authentication attempts from TeamCity to integrated services shortly after Test Connection calls.
- Audit log entries referencing connection decryption actions performed by non-administrative accounts.
Detection Strategies
- Review TeamCity server access logs for POST requests to Test Connection endpoints correlated with low-privilege sessions.
- Correlate TeamCity activity with authentication telemetry from integrated systems (Git providers, cloud platforms, registries) to identify anomalous credential use.
- Flag any Test Connection activity performed by accounts outside the expected administrator or project admin groups.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose audit logging on the TeamCity server and forward events to a centralized SIEM for correlation.
- Monitor for credential reuse across environments, especially service accounts tied to TeamCity integrations.
- Alert on changes to connection configurations immediately following Test Connection activity from unexpected principals.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24461
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade TeamCity to version 2024.12.1 or later as published on the JetBrains Security Issues Fixed page.
- Rotate all secrets stored in TeamCity connection objects, including tokens, API keys, and service account passwords.
- Review user and role assignments and remove unnecessary accounts from the TeamCity server.
Patch Information
JetBrains addressed CVE-2025-24461 in TeamCity 2024.12.1. The fix enforces permission checks on the Test Connection endpoint so that only users with the appropriate role on the targeted connection can trigger decryption. Administrators running earlier releases should plan the upgrade through standard change management and verify server health after the update.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to the TeamCity server using firewall rules or reverse proxy ACLs until the patch is applied.
- Temporarily reduce the number of users with authenticated access to the TeamCity web interface.
- Audit and remove unused connection objects to limit the scope of credentials exposed if the endpoint is abused.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
