CVE-2025-2545 identifies a cryptographic vulnerability in Best Practical Solutions, LLC's Request Tracker software versions prior to 5.0.8. The vulnerability arises from the use of the Triple DES (3DES) algorithm to protect emails sent with S/MIME encryption. Triple DES, once a widely used symmetric encryption algorithm, is now considered obsolete and insecure due to its susceptibility to birthday attacks, which exploit the relatively small block size (64 bits) of 3DES to find collisions and recover plaintext data. This weakness can lead to the compromise of the confidentiality of encrypted email messages transmitted via Request Tracker. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect the integrity or availability of the system, the exposure of sensitive email content could have significant privacy and security implications. The CVSS 4.0 score assigned is 2.3 (low severity), reflecting the fact that exploitation requires user interaction (UI:P), has high attack complexity (AC:H), and results in limited confidentiality impact (VC:L). No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches are linked yet, indicating that the vendor may still be working on remediation. The vulnerability falls under CWE-327, which concerns the use of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms. Request Tracker is a widely used issue tracking and ticketing system, often deployed in IT service management and customer support environments, where email communication confidentiality is critical. The use of 3DES in S/MIME encryption within this context exposes organizations to potential interception and decryption of sensitive email content by attackers capable of mounting birthday attacks, especially if they can capture sufficient encrypted traffic. This vulnerability highlights the importance of migrating to modern, secure cryptographic algorithms such as AES for email encryption to maintain confidentiality guarantees.

For European organizations using Request Tracker versions prior to 5.0.8, this vulnerability could lead to the exposure of confidential email communications protected by S/MIME encryption. Although the overall severity is low, the impact on confidentiality is non-negligible, especially for organizations handling sensitive customer data, internal communications, or regulatory information. Attackers capable of capturing encrypted emails could exploit the weakness in 3DES to decrypt message content, potentially leading to data breaches, privacy violations, or leakage of intellectual property. This risk is particularly relevant for sectors with stringent data protection requirements under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. However, the high attack complexity and requirement for user interaction reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. Nevertheless, the confidentiality compromise could undermine trust and compliance efforts. Organizations relying on Request Tracker for ticketing and email workflows should assess their exposure and prioritize upgrading to versions that replace 3DES with stronger cryptographic algorithms to mitigate this risk.

1. Upgrade Request Tracker to version 5.0.8 or later, where the use of 3DES for S/MIME encryption has been removed or replaced with a secure algorithm such as AES. 2. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, disable S/MIME email encryption within Request Tracker or configure it to use alternative secure encryption methods if supported. 3. Review and audit email encryption configurations to ensure no legacy or weak cryptographic algorithms like 3DES are in use across the organization. 4. Implement network monitoring to detect unusual patterns that may indicate attempts to capture or analyze encrypted email traffic. 5. Educate users about the risks of interacting with suspicious emails and the importance of secure communication practices. 6. Coordinate with IT security teams to ensure that cryptographic policies align with current best practices, including the deprecation of 3DES in all systems. 7. Monitor vendor advisories and security bulletins for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly. 8. Consider deploying additional email security controls such as end-to-end encryption solutions that do not rely on vulnerable algorithms.