CVE-2025-2545 in Request Tracker
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2025
Vulnerability in Best Practical Solutions, LLC's Request Tracker v5.0.7, where the Triple DES (3DES) cryptographic algorithm is used within SMIME code to encrypt S/MIME emails. Triple DES is considered obsolete and insecure due to its susceptibility to birthday attacks, which could compromise the confidentiality of encrypted messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2545 affects Best Practical Solutions, LLC's Request Tracker version 5.0.7, specifically within its S/MIME email encryption implementation. This flaw represents a significant cryptographic weakness that undermines the security posture of the email communication system. The use of Triple DES encryption within the S/MIME codebase creates a substantial risk for organizations relying on this software for secure email transmission, as the algorithm has been widely deprecated due to fundamental cryptographic weaknesses.
The technical flaw stems from the implementation of Triple DES encryption in the S/MIME email handling component of the Request Tracker system. Triple DES, while historically used as a transition algorithm, has been deemed cryptographically insecure for several years due to its vulnerability to birthday attacks and meet-in-the-middle attacks. The algorithm's effective key length of 112 bits provides insufficient security against modern computational capabilities, making encrypted communications susceptible to cryptanalytic attacks that could compromise message confidentiality. This cryptographic weakness directly violates industry standards and best practices established by organizations such as NIST and the NSA, which have explicitly recommended against using 3DES for new implementations since 2011.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple confidentiality breaches, potentially enabling adversaries to access sensitive information transmitted through the email system. Organizations using this version of Request Tracker may face risks including unauthorized access to business communications, intellectual property theft, and potential compliance violations with data protection regulations. The vulnerability affects the core email security functionality of the system, meaning that any S/MIME encrypted messages sent or received through this platform could be compromised. Attackers with sufficient computational resources could potentially decrypt intercepted messages, undermining the trust that organizations place in their email encryption mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-2545 should prioritize immediate updates to the Request Tracker software to versions that eliminate the use of Triple DES encryption. Organizations should implement alternative cryptographic algorithms such as AES-256 for S/MIME email encryption, which provides robust security against current attack vectors. System administrators should also consider disabling the S/MIME functionality until proper cryptographic upgrades are implemented, and conduct thorough security assessments of all email encryption mechanisms within their infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through social engineering, as compromised email communications could lead to broader system compromise. Organizations should also review their overall cryptographic policies and ensure compliance with current standards such as FIPS 140-2 and NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic module validation and security requirements.