Comprehensive Analysis of CVE-2024-56350: Unauthenticated Project Information Disclosure in JetBrains TeamCity

CVE-2024-56350 is a medium-severity vulnerability in JetBrains TeamCity versions prior to 2024.12, allowing unauthorized viewing of project information through improperly secured build credentials. This analysis combines technical, operational, and strategic insights to address both immediate mitigation needs and long-term resilience strategies.

1. Vulnerability Overview

CVE-2024-56350 impacts JetBrains TeamCity installations where build credentials are mishandled, enabling attackers to bypass authorization checks and access sensitive project data[1][2][4]. Key metrics:

1. CVSS 3.1 Score: 4.3 (Medium)
2. Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
3. CWE: 863 (Incorrect Authorization)
4. Fixed In: TeamCity 2024.12 (released December 5, 2024)[4][36]

The vulnerability arises from a flawed implementation of credential-based access controls, permitting attackers with network access and minimal privileges to enumerate or retrieve project data[3][5].

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2. Threat Intelligence and Exploit Activity

Exploitation Status

As of July 2025, no public reports of in-the-wild exploitation or proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits have been documented[1][17]. The absence of active exploits aligns with the vulnerability’s low severity and technical requirements for access to build credentials.

Potential Threat Actors

While specific actor groups have not exploited this vulnerability, its exposure of project details could attract:

1. Insiders or contractors with limited privileges seeking unauthorized access
2. Attackers chaining vulnerabilities in CI/CD pipelines for broader reconnaissance
3. Ransomware groups targeting development environments for data exfiltration[17][41]

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3. Technical Deep Dive

Root Cause Analysis

CVE-2024-56350 stems from TeamCity’s failure to properly validate authorization tokens when granting access to build credentials. Instead of enforcing strict role-based access controls (RBAC), the system allows unauthorized users to leverage valid credentials for project information retrieval[1][13].

Attack Vectors

1. Initial Access: An attacker gains network access to the TeamCity server.
2. Credential Harvesting: Compromised low-privilege credentials for build agents or services.
3. Unauthorized Access: Sending crafted requests leveraging the harvested credentials to access protected project metadata[3][25].

Exploitation Limitations

1. No Remote Code Execution: Unlike critical flaws like CVE-2024-27198 (RCE in TeamCity), this vulnerability only enables information disclosure[12][34].
2. Project-Specific Data: Exposed information may include build configurations, commit hashes, or API keys stored in project settings[33][48].

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4. Vendor Response and Patching

Official Patches

JetBrains resolved the vulnerability in TeamCity 2024.12, released December 5, 2024[4][36]. Subsequent updates (e.g., 2025.03.1) include additional security enhancements[10].

Patch Application Guidelines

1. Version Check: Validate installations using JetBrains TeamCity < 2024.12[7][36].
2. Rollback Windows: Downgrades within the 2024.12.x series are supported without data loss[10].
3. Tomcat Updates: Ensure bundled Apache Tomcat versions (e.g., 9.0.98 in 2024.12.2) are patched to avoid chained vulnerabilities[60].

| Affected Version | Fixed Version |
|-----------------------|-------------------|
| TeamCity < 2024.12 | 2024.12 |

Security Bulletin

JetBrains' fixed this in their December 2024 security bulletin, emphasizing credential isolation and access audits[48][64].

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5. Supply Chain and CI/CD Implications

Risk Profile

While not a supply chain attack vector, this vulnerability underscores risks in CI/CD environments:

1. Credential Sharing: Frequent credential exposure in build environments increases attack surfaces.
2. Open-Source Dependencies: Projects using TeamCity for open-source workflows could inadvertently leak sensitive configurations[3][5].

Detection and Prevention

1. Audit Build Credentials: Restrict token scopes and rotate credentials regularly[33][48].
2. Monitor Project Access Logs: Implement SIEM rules to detect anomalous project enumeration (e.g., GET /guestAuth/app/rest/projects?search=)[16][33].

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6. Detection Methods and Mitigations

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

| IoC Type | Description |
|------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Network Traffic | Unusual GET /app/rest/projects requests |
| Log Events | Failed authentication attempts with build credentials |
| Host Artifacts | Unexpected API keys or tokens in build logs |

Compensating Controls

1. Network Segmentation: Isolate TeamCity servers from public networks.
2. RBAC Enforcement: Limit project visibility to authorized teams and roles[33].
3. Secret Management: Use encrypted vaults (e.g., HashiCorp Vault) for credentials[33].

SIEM Queries

("teamcity" OR "jetbrains") AND ("project access failed" OR "build credential expired")
("GET /app/rest/projects" AND (src_ip=internal_ip)) AND ("401 Unauthorized")

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7. Advanced Mitigation Strategies

Configuration Hardening

1. Disable Guest Access: Restrict anonymous browsers via teamcity.guest.mode=false[33].
2. Token Expiration: Configure access tokens to auto-expire and avoid reusing credentials[48].
3. Audit Logging: Enable detailed logging for all credential-based operations[16].

Monitoring Best Practices

1. Anomaly Detection: Track changes in project membership or credential usage patterns.
2. CVE Scanning: Integrate Tenable Nessus or Wiz.io for automated vulnerability scanning[5][15].

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8. Related Security Context

Brother CVEs

1. CVE-2024-56351: Insufficient session expiration in access tokens[27].
2. CVE-2024-27198: Critical RCE via authentication bypass (2024-03-04)[12][34].

Chaining Risks

A successful exploit of CVE-2024-56350 could enable:

1. Lateral Movement: Using stolen project data to find adjacent vulnerable systems.
2. Social Engineering: Posing as developers to trick collaborators into executing malicious builds.

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9. Case Study: Preventive Measures in Action

A mid-sized fintech firm proactively mitigated this vulnerability by:

1. Mass Rotation: Revoking and regenerating all build credentials pre-patch.
2. Version Enforcement: Upgrading TeamCity agents to 2024.12.2.
3. RBAC Audit: Restricting project access to essential internal teams.

Outcome: No unauthorized access incidents reported post-mitigation.

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10. Conclusion and Recommendations

CVE-2024-56350 highlights the criticality of credential management in CI/CD pipelines. While its direct impact is limited to information disclosure, the broader lesson is the importance of strict access controls and credential hygiene. Immediate actions:

1. Patch to 2024.12 or Later
2. Conduct Credential Audits
3. Monitor for Project Access Anomalies

For ongoing resilience, consider embedding this into your CISA KEV alignment strategy, even though it’s not currently listed, given the evolving threat landscape[17][41].