CVE-2025-68165 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in JetBrains TeamCity, a widely used continuous integration and deployment server. The flaw exists in the VCS Root setup component prior to version 2025.11, where user-supplied input is improperly sanitized and reflected back in HTTP responses. This allows an attacker to craft malicious URLs or payloads that, when visited by a legitimate user with access to the TeamCity interface, execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability does not require authentication (PR:N), has low attack complexity (AC:L), and requires user interaction (UI:R). The impact is limited to confidentiality and integrity, as attackers can potentially steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or manipulate displayed data, but it does not affect system availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4, indicating a medium severity level. No public exploits or patches are currently reported, but the vulnerability is officially published and assigned by JetBrains. The reflected XSS in a CI/CD tool like TeamCity could be leveraged in targeted attacks against developers or DevOps personnel, potentially leading to broader compromise if attackers escalate privileges or move laterally within networks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68165 can be significant in environments relying heavily on JetBrains TeamCity for software development and deployment. Exploitation could lead to theft of authentication tokens, unauthorized actions within the TeamCity interface, and potential injection of malicious code into build pipelines. This compromises the integrity of the software supply chain and could facilitate further attacks such as malware insertion or data exfiltration. Confidentiality breaches may expose sensitive project information or credentials. Although availability is not directly impacted, the indirect consequences of compromised CI/CD systems can disrupt development workflows and delay critical software releases. Organizations in sectors with stringent compliance requirements (e.g., finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure) may face regulatory and reputational risks if such vulnerabilities are exploited. The requirement for user interaction somewhat limits automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in phishing or social engineering scenarios targeting developers.

1. Apply official patches from JetBrains as soon as they are released for TeamCity 2025.11 or later versions addressing this vulnerability. 2. Until patches are available, restrict access to the TeamCity web interface to trusted networks and authenticated users only, minimizing exposure to untrusted actors. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns targeting the VCS Root setup endpoints. 4. Enforce strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing TeamCity. 5. Educate developers and DevOps staff about the risks of clicking on suspicious links related to TeamCity and encourage cautious handling of URLs received via email or chat. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews of custom TeamCity plugins or integrations that might exacerbate XSS risks. 7. Monitor logs and user activity for unusual access patterns or repeated failed attempts to exploit the vulnerability. 8. Consider network segmentation to isolate CI/CD infrastructure from general user networks to reduce the attack surface.