CVE-2025-10539
Improper TLS Validation in DeskTime App Enables Remote Code Execution
Publication date: 2026-04-28
Last updated on: 2026-04-29
Assigner: SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| desktime | time_tracking_app | to 1.3.674 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-296 | The product does not follow, or incorrectly follows, the chain of trust for a certificate back to a trusted root certificate, resulting in incorrect trust of any resource that is associated with that certificate. |
| CWE-295 | The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate. |
| CWE-494 | The product downloads source code or an executable from a remote location and executes the code without sufficiently verifying the origin and integrity of the code. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in the DeskTime Time Tracking App versions prior to 1.3.674 due to improper TLS certificate validation during the application's update process.
Attackers who can position themselves between the client and the DeskTime update servers (performing a man-in-the-middle attack) can exploit this flaw by delivering malicious executables in response to update requests.
The app fails to correctly validate the server's TLS certificate, accepting certificates with chain errors, which allows attackers to use self-signed certificates to intercept and manipulate update requests.
As a result, the attacker can cause the DeskTime app to automatically download and execute malicious code with user-level privileges without any user interaction.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can lead to user-level remote code execution on the affected client.
An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can run arbitrary malicious code on your system by delivering a malicious update through a man-in-the-middle attack.
Since the update process is automatic and requires no user interaction, exploitation can happen silently and repeatedly, potentially compromising your system's security and data.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring the DeskTime application's update process for improper TLS certificate validation and unusual network activity indicative of a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack.
A proof of concept involves redirecting the DeskTime update domain to a local proxy and intercepting update requests to observe if the application accepts self-signed or invalid TLS certificates.
Suggested commands and steps include:
- Modify the local hosts file to redirect desktime.com to a controlled IP (e.g., localhost).
- Use a proxy tool like Burp Suite with TLS interception enabled to capture and analyze update requests from the DeskTime app.
- Monitor network traffic for HTTPS requests to the DeskTime update servers and check if the TLS certificates are properly validated or if invalid/self-signed certificates are accepted.
- Check the DeskTime application version; versions prior to 1.3.674 are vulnerable.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
The immediate and recommended mitigation step is to update the DeskTime Time Tracking App to version 1.3.674 or later, which contains the patch addressing the improper TLS certificate validation.
No workarounds exist for this vulnerability, so applying the official update is critical to prevent exploitation.
Additionally, consider performing a comprehensive security review of the product and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity related to update requests.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The provided information does not specify any direct impact of this vulnerability on compliance with common standards and regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.