CVE-2020-1938: When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat.
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Now (action score 99/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Mar 3, 2022). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Mar 17, 2022.
- A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit, Nuclei); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 99.2% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.9% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- According to CISA the attack is automatable: targets can be found by mass scanning.
- Fixed version: tomcat9 (Debian:10) 9.0.31-1~deb10u1; tomcat9 (Debian:12) 9.0.31-1; tomcat7 (Debian:8) 7.0.56-3+really7.0.100-1.
- Mentioned 6 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Patch today or shut off access. Upgrade to tomcat9 (Debian:10) 9.0.31-1~deb10u1; tomcat9 (Debian:12) 9.0.31-1; tomcat7 (Debian:8) 7.0.56-3+really7.0.100-1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS
When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat. Tomcat treats AJP connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they can be exploited in ways that may be surprising. In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.30, 8.5.0 to 8.5.50 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.99, Tomcat shipped with an AJP Connector enabled by default that listened on all configured IP addresses. It was expected (and recommended in the security guide) that this Connector would be disabled if not required. This vulnerability report identified a mechanism that allowed: - returning arbitrary files from anywhere in the web application - processing any file in the web application as a JSP Further, if the web application allowed file upload and stored those files within the web application (or the attacker was able to control the content of the web application by some other means) then this, along with the ability to process a file as a JSP, made remote code execution possible. It is important to note that mitigation is only required if an AJP port is accessible to untrusted users. Users wishing to take a defence-in-depth approach and block the vector that permits returning arbitrary files and execution as JSP may upgrade to Apache Tomcat 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later. A number of changes were made to the default AJP Connector configuration in 9.0.31 to harden the default configuration. It is likely that users upgrading to 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later will need to make small changes to their configurations.
- BDU:2020-00937
- GHSA-c9hw-wf7x-jp9j
- DLA-2133-1
- DLA-2209-1
- DSA-4673-1
- DSA-4680-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0345-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0597-1
- RHSA-2020:0855
- RHSA-2020:0861
- RHSA-2020:0912
- RHSA-2020:1478
- RHSA-2020:1520
- RHSA-2020:2779
- RHSA-2020:2780
- RHSA-2020:2781
- RHSA-2020:2840
- RHSA-2020:4847
- RLSA-2020:4847
- SUSE-SU-2020:0598-1
- Published
- Feb 24, 2020
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- EPSS
- 99.2% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- —
Report tools
Action score
99
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 30 / 30 · 99.2%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 3, 2022. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Mar 17, 2022.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Running WordPress? Scan your site free with WP Lens
Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| apache | geode | cpe:2.3:a:apache:geode |
| apache | tomcat | cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| oracle | agile engineering data management | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:agile_engineering_data_management |
| oracle | agile product lifecycle management | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:agile_product_lifecycle_management |
| oracle | communications element manager | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_element_manager |
| oracle | communications instant messaging server | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_instant_messaging_server |
| oracle | health sciences empirica inspections | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_empirica_inspections |
| oracle | health sciences empirica signal | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_empirica_signal |
| oracle | hospitality guest access | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:hospitality_guest_access |
| oracle | instantis enterprisetrack | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack |
| oracle | mysql enterprise monitor | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql_enterprise_monitor |
and 9 more
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apache geode1.12.0
- apache tomcat7.0.0 and later · before 7.0.100
- apache tomcat8.5.0 and later · before 8.5.51
- apache tomcat9.0.0 and later · before 9.0.31
- blackberry good controlup to 5.2.58.38 inclusive
- blackberry workspaces server7.0.1
- blackberry workspaces server7.1.2
- blackberry workspaces server8.1.0
- blackberry workspaces server9.0
- debian debian linux10.0
- debian debian linux8.0
- debian debian linux9.0
- fedoraproject fedora30
- fedoraproject fedora31
- fedoraproject fedora32
- netapp data availability servicesall versions
- netapp oncommand system manager3.0.0 and later · up to 3.1.3 inclusive
- opensuse leap15.1
- oracle agile engineering data management6.2.1.0
- oracle agile product lifecycle management9.3.3
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (apache). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Apache Apache Tomcat
- Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.30, 8.5.0 to 8.5.50, 7.0.0 to 7.0.99affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:10 | tomcat9 | before 9.0.31-1~deb10u1 | 9.0.31-1~deb10u1 |
| Debian:12 | tomcat9 | before 9.0.31-1 | 9.0.31-1 |
| Debian:8 | tomcat7 | before 7.0.56-3+really7.0.100-1 | 7.0.56-3+really7.0.100-1 |
| Debian:8 | tomcat8 | before 8.0.14-1+deb8u17 | 8.0.14-1+deb8u17 |
| Debian:9 | tomcat8 | before 8.5.54-0+deb9u1 | 8.5.54-0+deb9u1 |
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core | from 7.0.0 · before 7.0.100 | 7.0.100 |
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core | from 8.0.0 · before 8.5.51 | 8.5.51 |
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core | from 9.0.0 · before 9.0.31 | 9.0.31 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | apache2 | before 2.4.33-lp151.8.12.1 | 2.4.33-lp151.8.12.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | tomcat | before 9.0.31-lp151.3.12.1 | 9.0.31-lp151.3.12.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6 | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-admin-webapps | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-docs-webapp | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-el-2.1-api | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-javadoc | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-jsp-2.1-api | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-lib | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-servlet-2.5-api | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | tomcat6-webapps | before 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 | 0:6.0.24-114.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | tomcat | before 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | tomcat-admin-webapps | before 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | tomcat-docs-webapp | before 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | tomcat-el-2.2-api | before 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | tomcat-javadoc | before 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 |
+96
Same product
apache: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2022-37021Apache Geode deserialization of untrusted data flaw when using JMX over RMI on Java 8.40Plan
- CVE-2017-15692In Apache Geode before v1.4.0, the TcpServer within the Geode locator opens a network port that deserializes data.40Plan
- CVE-2017-15695When an Apache Geode server versions 1.0.0 to 1.4.0 is configured with a security manager, a user with DATA:WRITE privileges is allowed to d36Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2017-15693Feb 27, 2018 · In Apache Geode before v1.4.0, the Geode server stores application objects in serialized form.31Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2017-15694Jun 21, 2019 · When an Apache Geode server versions 1.0.0 to 1.8.0 is operating in secure mode, a user with write permissions for specific data regions can27Monitor
- Later →CVE-2019-10091Mar 16, 2020 · When TLS is enabled with ssl-endpoint-identification-enabled set to true, Apache Geode fails to perform hostname verification of the entries29Monitor
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 |
|---|---|---|
| debian:tomcat7 | 7.0.56-3+really7.0.100-1 · Debian:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:tomcat8 | 8.0.14-1+deb8u17 · Debian:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:tomcat9 | 9.0.31-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core | 7.0.100 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core | 8.5.51 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core | 9.0.31 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:apache2 | 2.4.33-lp151.8.12.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:tomcat | 9.0.31-lp151.3.12.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-admin-webapps | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-docs-webapp | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-el-2.2-api | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-javadoc | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-jsp-2.2-api | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-jsvc | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-lib | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-native | 0:1.2.23-21.redhat_21.ep7.el6 · Red Hat:jboss_enterprise_web_server:3.1::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-native-debuginfo | 0:1.2.23-21.redhat_21.ep7.el6 · Red Hat:jboss_enterprise_web_server:3.1::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-servlet-3.0-api | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tomcat-webapps | 0:7.0.76-11.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:apache-commons-collections | 0:3.2.2-10.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:apache-commons-lang | 0:2.6-21.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:apache-commons-net | 0:3.6-3.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:bea-stax | 0:1.2.0-16.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:glassfish-fastinfoset | 0:1.2.13-9.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:glassfish-jaxb | 0:2.2.11-11.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:glassfish-jaxb-api | 0:2.2.12-8.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:jackson-annotations | 0:2.10.0-1.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:jackson-core | 0:2.10.0-1.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:jackson-databind | 0:2.10.0-1.module+el8.3.0+53+ea062990 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
+5
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 ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×2
- Nuclei detection template ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×40
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 | webapps | 2020-02-20 |
| Exploit-DB entry | webapps | 2020-11-13 |
| Metasploit module | auxiliary/admin/http/tomcat_ghostcatApache Tomcat AJP File Readauxiliary | 2020-02-20 |
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2020-1938 | — |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:45 | 2020-02-20 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:3 | 2020-02-20 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:294 | 2020-02-20 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:38 | 2020-02-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2020-02-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:57 | 2020-02-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:11 | 2020-02-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:9 | 2020-02-21 |
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-5 d
- Metasploit-5 d
- Published
- CISA KEV+737 d
- TodayNov 2, 2026+2443 d
No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).
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).
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-21-1017 · Dec 23, 2021(Apache HTTP Server Güvenlik Bildirimi)
- TR-21-0555 · Jul 7, 2021(Philips Vue PAC Zafiyeti)
- TR-20-516 · Jul 13, 2020(Apache, Tomcat için Güvenlik Güncellemeleri Yayınladı)
- TR-20-437 · Jun 15, 2020(IBM Ürünleri Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
- TR-20-394 · May 29, 2020(Apache, Tomcat için Güvenlik Güncellemeleri Yayınladı)
- TR-20-357 · May 18, 2020(IBM Ürünleri Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (19 more)Show less
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-05/msg00002.html
- support.blackberry.com/kb/articleDetail?articleNumber=000062739
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r089dc67c0358a1556dd279c762c74f32d7a254a54836b7ee2d839d8e%40%3Cdev.tomee.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r17aaa3a05b5b7fe9075613dd0c681efa60a4f8c8fbad152c61371b6e%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r38a5b7943b9a62ecb853acc22ef08ff586a7b3c66e08f949f0396ab1%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r43faacf64570b1d9a4bada407a5af3b2738b0c007b905f1b6b608c65%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r47caef01f663106c2bb81d116b8380d62beac9e543dd3f3bc2c2beda%40%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4afa11e0464408e68f0e9560e90b185749363a66398b1491254f7864%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4f86cb260196e5cfcbbe782822c225ddcc70f54560f14a8f11c6926f%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r549b43509e387a42656f0641fa311bf27c127c244fe02007d5b8d6f6%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r57f5e4ced436ace518a9e222fabe27fb785f09f5bf974814cc48ca97%40%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5e2f1201b92ee05a0527cfc076a81ea0c270be299b87895c0ddbe02b%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r61f280a76902b594692f0b24a1dbf647bb5a4c197b9395e9a6796e7c%40%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6a5633cad1b560a1e51f5b425f02918bdf30e090fdf18c5f7c2617eb%40%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r74328b178f9f37fe759dffbc9c1f2793e66d79d7a8a20d3836551794%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r75113652e46c4dee687236510649acfb70d2c63e074152049c3f399d%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r772335e6851ad33ddb076218fa4ff70de1bf398d5b43e2ddf0130e5d%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7c6f492fbd39af34a68681dbbba0468490ff1a97a1bd79c6a53610ef%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.