CVE-2025-46432 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in JetBrains TeamCity, a widely used continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) server. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-532, which pertains to the exposure of sensitive information through logs. Specifically, in versions of TeamCity prior to 2025.03.1, base64-encoded credentials can be inadvertently exposed within build logs. This occurs because the system logs certain build processes or outputs that include encoded credentials, which, while not in plaintext, can be easily decoded by an attacker with access to the logs. Since build logs are often accessible to multiple users within an organization or potentially exposed through misconfigurations, this exposure can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive systems or services that rely on these credentials. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to be exploited if an attacker already has access to the build logs, which may be accessible internally or through compromised accounts. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of this report, and JetBrains has not yet released a patch, but the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and assigned a CVE identifier. The issue arises from insufficient handling of sensitive data in logs, a common security oversight in CI/CD environments where automation and transparency are balanced against confidentiality.

For European organizations, the exposure of base64-encoded credentials in TeamCity build logs can have significant security implications. Many enterprises rely on TeamCity for automating software builds and deployments, often integrating with critical infrastructure and cloud services. If an attacker gains access to these logs, they could decode credentials and escalate privileges, leading to unauthorized access to internal systems, source code repositories, or production environments. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, disruption of services, and potential compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The impact is particularly severe for organizations with complex CI/CD pipelines and those that store or process sensitive personal or financial data. Additionally, the exposure could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Since the vulnerability does not require external exploitation but depends on access to logs, the risk is heightened by inadequate access controls or insider threats. The lack of known exploits suggests that proactive mitigation can effectively reduce risk before active exploitation occurs.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately upgrade JetBrains TeamCity to version 2025.03.1 or later once available, as this version addresses the issue by preventing credentials from being logged. Until a patch is applied, organizations should audit and restrict access to build logs, ensuring that only authorized personnel can view them. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) and monitor access logs for unusual activity. Additionally, review build configurations and scripts to avoid embedding credentials directly in build outputs or logs. Employ secrets management solutions that inject credentials at runtime without exposing them in logs. Organizations should also consider encrypting logs at rest and in transit and regularly rotate credentials that may have been exposed. Conduct internal security awareness training to highlight the risks of credential exposure in CI/CD environments. Finally, implement continuous monitoring and alerting for suspicious access patterns to build servers and logs to detect potential exploitation attempts early.