CVE-2023-28708: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat Vulnerable To Unprotected Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2c9m-w27f-53rm
Share
CVSS 4.3
CWE-523
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-28708 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) apache tomcat vulnerable to unprotected vulnerability (CWE-523: Unprotected Transport of Credentials) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat vulnerable to unprotected transport of credentials. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 11.0.0-M3, 10.1.6, 9.0.72, 8.5.86.

CVE-2023-28708 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-28708
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2c9m-w27f-53rm
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-523: Unprotected Transport of Credentials
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-28708

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache Tomcat dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 11.0.0-M3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>11.0.0-M3</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 10.1.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>10.1.6</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 9.0.72 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.72</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 8.5.86 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.86</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tomcat

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-28708, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tomcat

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache Tomcat in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 11.0.0-M3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tomcat command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-523: Unprotected Transport of Credentials, where login pages do not use adequate measures to protect the user name and password while they are in transit from the client to the server. In Apache Tomcat, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

When using the RemoteIpFilter with requests received from a reverse proxy via HTTP that include the X-Forwarded-Proto header set to https, session cookies created by Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M1 to 11.0.0.-M2, 10.1.0-M1 to 10.1.5, 9.0.0-M1 to 9.0.71 and 8.5.0 to 8.5.85 did not include the secure attribute. This could result in the user agent transmitting the session cookie over an insecure channel.

CVE-2023-28708 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
11.0.0-M310.1.69.0.728.5.86
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 11.0.0-M1
< 11.0.0-M3
11.0.0-M3
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 10.1.0-M1
< 10.1.6
10.1.6
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 9.0.0-M1
< 9.0.72
9.0.72
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 8.5.0
< 8.5.86
8.5.86

References

NVD — CVE-2023-28708 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28708
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/3b51230764da595bb19e8d0962dd8c69ab40dfab
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/5b72c94e8b2c4ada63a1d91dc527bf4d8fd1f510
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/c64d496dda1560b5df113be55fbfaefec349b50f
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/f509bbf31fc00abe3d9f25ebfabca5e05173da5b
bz.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.c... WEB
https://bz.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=66471
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
lists.apache.org/thread/hdksc59z3s7t... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/hdksc59z3s7tm39x0pp33mtwdrt8qr67
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230331-0012
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://tomcat.apache.org/security-10.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://tomcat.apache.org/security-11.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-28708?
CVE-2023-28708 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat vulnerable to Unprotected Transport of Credentials under CWE-523: Unprotected Transport of Credentials.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 11.0.0-M3, 10.1.6, 9.0.72, 8.5.86 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina.
What version fixes CVE-2023-28708?
Upgrading to 11.0.0-M3, 10.1.6, 9.0.72, 8.5.86 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tomcat-catalina affected?
Yes, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina is affected in releases prior to 11.0.0-M3, 10.1.6, 9.0.72, 8.5.86. Upgrade your dependency to 11.0.0-M3, 10.1.6, 9.0.72, 8.5.86 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-28708?
CVE-2023-28708 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-28708?
CVE-2023-28708 is classified under CWE-523: Unprotected Transport of Credentials (Login pages do not use adequate measures to protect the user name and password while they are in transit from the client to the server.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-28708?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tomcat'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2c9m-w27f-53rm",
  "modified" : "2025-11-04T21:30:33Z",
  "published" : "2023-03-22T12:30:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-28708" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat vulnerable to Unprotected Transport of Credentials",
  "details" : "When using the RemoteIpFilter with requests received from a reverse proxy via HTTP that include the X-Forwarded-Proto header set to https, session cookies created by Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M1 to 11.0.0.-M2, 10.1.0-M1 to 10.1.5, 9.0.0-M1 to 9.0.71 and 8.5.0 to 8.5.85 did not include the secure attribute. This could result in the user agent transmitting the session cookie over an insecure channel.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "11.0.0-M1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "11.0.0-M3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "10.1.0-M1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "10.1.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0-M1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.0.72"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "8.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.5.86"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28708"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/3b51230764da595bb19e8d0962dd8c69ab40dfab"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/5b72c94e8b2c4ada63a1d91dc527bf4d8fd1f510"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/c64d496dda1560b5df113be55fbfaefec349b50f"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/f509bbf31fc00abe3d9f25ebfabca5e05173da5b"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bz.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=66471"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/hdksc59z3s7tm39x0pp33mtwdrt8qr67"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230331-0012"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tomcat.apache.org/security-10.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tomcat.apache.org/security-11.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-523" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-03-22T21:22:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-03-22T11:15:00Z"
  }
}