CVE-2022-25508 in FreeTAKServer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2022
An access control issue in the component /ManageRoute/postRoute of FreeTAKServer v1.9.8 allows unauthenticated attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via an unusually large amount of created routes, or create unsafe or false routes for legitimate users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2022
The CVE-2022-25508 vulnerability resides within the FreeTAKServer v1.9.8 software, specifically in the /ManageRoute/postRoute component which handles route management functionality. This access control flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity and availability of the system's routing capabilities. FreeTAKServer serves as a critical component in tactical communications networks, particularly within military and emergency response environments where reliable communication infrastructure is paramount for operational success.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the route creation endpoint. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this weakness by submitting excessively large amounts of route data through the postRoute API endpoint, creating a resource exhaustion scenario that leads to denial of service conditions. Additionally, the flaw allows malicious actors to inject false or unsafe routes into the system, potentially compromising the accuracy and reliability of tactical communications networks. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates a classic lack of proper authentication and authorization controls that should be enforced before processing any route creation requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise mission-critical communications infrastructure. In tactical environments where FreeTAKServer serves as a backbone for real-time communication between field units and command centers, an attacker could cause significant operational disruption by overwhelming the system with excessive route requests or injecting malicious routes that could misdirect communications. The ability to create false routes poses a serious risk to operational security and could lead to tactical misinformation that affects decision-making processes. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of the FreeTAKServer routing system, which is fundamental to maintaining communication links in emergency response and military operations.
Security mitigations for CVE-2022-25508 should focus on implementing robust access controls and input validation mechanisms within the affected component. Organizations should enforce proper authentication and authorization checks before allowing any route creation operations to proceed, ensuring that only legitimate users with appropriate privileges can submit routing data. Input sanitization and rate limiting should be implemented to prevent resource exhaustion attacks through large data submissions. Additionally, the system should validate route data integrity and implement proper error handling to prevent malformed route information from being processed. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Engineering) in the context of initial access vectors. The remediation approach should include immediate software updates to the latest FreeTAKServer version, implementation of network-level access controls, and comprehensive monitoring of route creation activities to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.