CVE-2025-46433 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in JetBrains TeamCity, a widely used continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) server. The vulnerability stems from improper path validation in the 'loggingPreset' parameter, which is categorized under CWE-23 (Relative Path Traversal). This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate file paths by injecting relative path sequences (e.g., '../') into the 'loggingPreset' parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized access to files or directories outside the intended scope. Since TeamCity manages build configurations, logs, and artifacts, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized reading or modification of sensitive files on the server hosting TeamCity. The vulnerability affects all versions of TeamCity prior to 2025.03.1. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved and published in April 2025, indicating recent discovery. The improper validation suggests that the application fails to sanitize or canonicalize the input path before using it to access the file system, which is a common security oversight in web applications and services handling user-supplied paths. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability might be able to read sensitive configuration files, logs, or even write files if the application logic permits, potentially leading to information disclosure or further compromise. However, exploitation likely requires the ability to send crafted requests to the TeamCity server, which may be restricted to authenticated users or internal networks depending on deployment configurations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-46433 could be significant, especially for those relying heavily on JetBrains TeamCity for their software development lifecycle. Unauthorized access to build logs and configuration files could expose sensitive information such as credentials, API keys, or proprietary source code. This exposure could facilitate further attacks, including lateral movement within the network or supply chain attacks. Additionally, manipulation or deletion of build artifacts could disrupt development pipelines, impacting availability and integrity of software releases. Organizations in sectors with stringent data protection regulations, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, could face compliance risks and reputational damage if sensitive data is leaked. Since TeamCity is often integrated with other development tools and repositories, a compromise could cascade, affecting multiple systems. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is exploitable, it may require some level of access or conditions to be met, limiting immediate widespread impact. However, the absence of known exploits does not preclude future attacks, especially as threat actors often target CI/CD tools to compromise software supply chains.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading JetBrains TeamCity to version 2025.03.1 or later as soon as it becomes available, as this will contain the official fix for the path traversal vulnerability. Until patches are applied, organizations should implement strict network segmentation and access controls to restrict access to the TeamCity server, limiting it to trusted internal users and systems only. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns in HTTP requests targeting the 'loggingPreset' parameter can provide an additional layer of defense. Regularly auditing and monitoring TeamCity logs for unusual access patterns or errors related to file access can help detect attempted exploitation. Additionally, organizations should review and harden file system permissions on the TeamCity server to minimize the potential impact of unauthorized file access. Integrating vulnerability scanning and continuous security assessments into the CI/CD pipeline can help identify similar issues proactively. Finally, educating development and operations teams about secure parameter handling and input validation best practices will reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities in custom plugins or integrations.