Directory traversal vulnerability in Apache Tomcat 4.1.0 through 4.1.37, 5.5.0 through 5.5.26, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.16, when allowLinking a
Directory traversal vulnerability in Apache Tomcat 4.1.0 through 4.1.37, 5.5.0 through 5.5.26, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.16, when allowLinking and UTF-8 are enabled, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via encoded directory traversal sequences in the URI, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-2370. NOTE: versions earlier than 6.0.18 were reported affected, but the vendor advisory lists 6.0.16 as the last affected version.
- Published
- Aug 12, 2008
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 99.7% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-22
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Report tools
Action score
47
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 17 / 40 · 4.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 30 / 30 · 99.7%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| apache | tomcat | cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apache tomcat4.0.0 and later · up to 4.1.37 inclusive
- apache tomcat5.0.0 and later · up to 5.5.26 inclusive
- apache tomcat6.0.0 and later · up to 6.0.16 inclusive
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | from 4.1.0 · before 4.1.39 | 4.1.39 |
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | from 5.5.0 · before 5.5.27 | 5.5.27 |
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | from 6.0.0 · before 6.0.18 | 6.0.18 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | tomcat5-jsp-2.0-api | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | tomcat5-servlet-2.4-api | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5 | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-admin-webapps | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-common-lib | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-debuginfo | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-jasper | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-jasper-javadoc | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-jsp-2.0-api-javadoc | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-server-lib | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-servlet-2.4-api-javadoc | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | tomcat5-webapps | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 |
| Red Hat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:4.2.0::el5 | jbossweb | before 0:2.0.0-5.CP07.0jpp.ep1.1.el5 | 0:2.0.0-5.CP07.0jpp.ep1.1.el5 |
| Red Hat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:4.3.0::el4 | jbossweb | before 0:2.0.0-5.CP07.0jpp.ep1.1.el4 | 0:2.0.0-5.CP07.0jpp.ep1.1.el4 |
| Red Hat:network_satellite:5.1::el4 | tomcat5 | before 0:5.0.30-0jpp_12rh | 0:5.0.30-0jpp_12rh |
| Red Hat:rhel_application_server:2 | tomcat5 | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 |
| Red Hat:rhel_application_server:2 | tomcat5-admin-webapps | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 |
| Red Hat:rhel_application_server:2 | tomcat5-common-lib | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 |
| Red Hat:rhel_application_server:2 | tomcat5-jasper | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 |
| Red Hat:rhel_application_server:2 | tomcat5-jasper-javadoc | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 |
| Red Hat:rhel_application_server:2 | tomcat5-jsp-2.0-api | before 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.9 |
+11
Same product
apache: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2025-24813Apache Tomcat: Potential RCE and/or information disclosure and/or information corruption with partial PUTKEV99Now
- CVE-2016-8735Remote code execution is possible with Apache Tomcat before 6.0.48, 7.x before 7.0.73, 8.x before 8.0.39, 8.5.x before 8.5.7, and 9.x beforeKEV96Now
- CVE-2017-12617When running Apache Tomcat versions 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0, 8.5.0 to 8.5.22, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.46 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.81 with HTTP PUTs enabled (e.g.KEV92Now
- CVE-2017-12615When running Apache Tomcat 7.0.0 to 7.0.79 on Windows with HTTP PUTs enabled (e.g.KEV92Now
- CVE-2026-34486Apache Tomcat: Fix for CVE-2026-29146 allowed bypass of EncryptInterceptorKEV62This week
- CVE-2019-0232When running on Windows with enableCmdLineArguments enabled, the CGI Servlet in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 62This week
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maven:org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | 4.1.39 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | 5.5.27 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | 6.0.18 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5 | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-admin-webapps | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-common-lib | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-debuginfo | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-jasper | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-jasper-javadoc | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-jsp-2.0-api | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-jsp-2.0-api-javadoc | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-server-lib | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-servlet-2.4-api | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-servlet-2.4-api-javadoc | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat5-webapps | 0:5.5.23-0jpp.7.el5_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×2
- Exploit-DB entry ×2
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2008-08-11 |
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2010-07-28 |
| Metasploit module | auxiliary/admin/http/tomcat_utf8_traversalTomcat UTF-8 Directory Traversal Vulnerabilityauxiliary | 2009-01-09 |
| Metasploit module | auxiliary/admin/http/trendmicro_dlp_traversalTrendMicro Data Loss Prevention 5.5 Directory Traversalauxiliary | 2009-01-09 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2016-10-13 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- First PoC-2 d
- Published
- Metasploit+149 d
- TodaySep 30, 2026+6623 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- none
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')CVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
nvd-primary
Root cause
A user-supplied file name is joined with the allowed directory, but the result is never checked to confirm it is still inside that directory.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-22 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
const file = path.join(ROOT, req.query.name);res.sendFile(file);Fixed
const file = path.resolve(ROOT, req.query.name);if (!file.startsWith(ROOT + path.sep)) { return res.sendStatus(400);}res.sendFile(file);Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Path TraversalCAPEC-126likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Slashes and URL Encoding Combined to Bypass Validation LogicCAPEC-64likelihood: High · High
- Manipulating Web Input to File System CallsCAPEC-76likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Escaped Slashes in Alternate EncodingCAPEC-78likelihood: High · High
- Using Slashes in Alternate EncodingCAPEC-79likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008/Oct/msg00001.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-09/msg00004.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-02/msg00002.html
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=123376588623823&w=2
- secunia.com/advisories/31639
- secunia.com/advisories/31865
- secunia.com/advisories/31891
- secunia.com/advisories/31982
- secunia.com/advisories/32120
- secunia.com/advisories/32222
- secunia.com/advisories/32266
- secunia.com/advisories/33797
- secunia.com/advisories/37297
- securityreason.com/securityalert/4148
- support.apple.com/kb/HT3216
- support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-401.htm
- tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html
- tomcat.apache.org/security-5.html
- tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/343355
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.