CVE-2022-25802 in Request Tracker
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2022
Best Practical Request Tracker (RT) before 4.4.6 and 5.x before 5.0.3 allows XSS via a crafted content type for an attachment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25802 affects Best Practical Request Tracker (RT) versions prior to 4.4.6 and 5.x prior to 5.0.3, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from improper handling of crafted content types during attachment processing. This issue specifically targets the attachment upload functionality within the RT system, where the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate the content type parameter associated with file uploads. The vulnerability resides in the application's input validation mechanisms, which do not properly filter malicious content type values that could contain script payloads.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker uploads an attachment with a maliciously crafted content type header or parameter that contains executable script code. The RT system processes this content type without sufficient sanitization, allowing the malicious payload to be stored and subsequently executed within the context of a victim's browser session when the attachment is viewed or processed. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious attachments. The vulnerability exploits the application's trust in user-provided content type information without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of the RT interface, and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive ticket data or system resources. An attacker could craft malicious attachments that, when viewed by administrators or other users with appropriate privileges, would execute scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious content into the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where RT systems handle sensitive customer data, internal communications, and security incident tracking, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the ticketing system and potential lateral movement within the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25802 include immediate patching of RT installations to versions 4.4.6 or 5.0.3 and later, which contain the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as content type validation at the web server level, implementing strict MIME type checking, and deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities. Security teams should conduct thorough review of attachment handling processes and implement proper output encoding for all user-provided content. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as it highlights how seemingly benign file upload functionality can become a vector for significant security breaches when proper sanitization measures are not implemented. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect and prevent the upload of potentially malicious content types, and establish regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the infrastructure.