CVE-2022-25803 in Request Tracker
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2022
Best Practical Request Tracker (RT) before 5.0.3 has an Open Redirect via a ticket search.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25803 affects Best Practical Request Tracker version 5.0.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to exploit open redirect mechanisms within the ticket search functionality. This issue falls under the category of insecure direct object reference vulnerabilities and specifically manifests through improper input validation in the search parameter handling system. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted URLs that redirect users to arbitrary external domains while maintaining the appearance of legitimate internal navigation within the RT application interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input parameters within the ticket search feature. When users perform searches within the RT system, the application processes search queries and constructs redirect URLs without adequate filtering of potentially malicious redirect targets. This flaw enables attackers to inject crafted redirect parameters that can lead unsuspecting users to phishing sites, malicious domains, or other unauthorized destinations while appearing to originate from the trusted RT environment. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the web interface components responsible for processing search requests and generating navigation links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it creates opportunities for sophisticated social engineering campaigns and credential theft operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to construct convincing phishing pages that appear to be legitimate RT search results or ticket views, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system compromise. The open redirect condition can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where RT systems contain sensitive customer data, internal communications, and business-critical information. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which is categorized under the broader category of insecure direct object reference issues.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in redirect operations. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation of redirect targets to ensure they originate from trusted domains only, and implementing a whitelist-based approach for redirect destinations. Organizations should also consider implementing proper URL encoding and validation mechanisms within their web applications to prevent malicious URL injection. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification of redirect mechanisms to ensure no similar vulnerabilities exist within the application's broader codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's initial access and credential access techniques.
This vulnerability highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of web applications, particularly in environments where user input directly influences navigation and redirect behaviors. Organizations utilizing RT systems should prioritize immediate patching to version 5.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the open redirect vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all redirect mechanisms within the application and implementation of proper security controls to prevent similar issues from emerging in future development cycles. Regular monitoring and logging of redirect operations can also provide early detection capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.