CVE-2009-2902: Apache Tomcat Path Traversal Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8wch-9gcg-v2pr
Share
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2009-2902 is a MODERATE path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') in apache tomcat. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.5.29, 6.0.24.

CVE-2009-2902 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2009-2902
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8wch-9gcg-v2pr
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2009-2902

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 fixed: 5.5.29 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>5.5.29</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 6.0.24 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>6.0.24</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-2009-2902, 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 5.5.29), 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. 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

Directory traversal vulnerability in Apache Tomcat 5.5.0 through 5.5.28 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.20 allows remote attackers to delete work-directory files via directory traversal sequences in a WAR filename, as demonstrated by the ...war filename.

CVE-2009-2902 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.5.296.0.24
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 5.5.0
< 5.5.29
5.5.29
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.0.24
6.0.24

References

NVD — CVE-2009-2902 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-2902
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/3e1010b1a2f648581fac3d68afbf18f2979f6bf6
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat55/commit/0299cb724ea71f304d54adfcdb950f59b01fb421
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20150308000602/http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/509150/100/0/threaded
web.archive.org/web/20140515000000*... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20140515000000*/http://secunia.com/advisories/57126
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20121211195847/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37945
support.apple.com/kb/ht4077 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20121211115829/http://securitytracker.com/id?1023504
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20111119150528/http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/516397/100/0/threaded
web.archive.org/web/20110601000000*... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20110601000000*/http://secunia.com/advisories/40330
web.archive.org/web/20110529135656/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20110529135656/http://secunia.com/advisories/38541
web.archive.org/web/20110213053623/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20110213053623/https://secunia.com/advisories/43310
web.archive.org/web/20100601000000*... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20100601000000*/http://secunia.com/advisories/40813
web.archive.org/web/20100412065745/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20100412065745/http://secunia.com/advisories/39317
web.archive.org/web/20100329100145/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20100329100145/http://secunia.com/advisories/38687
web.archive.org/web/20100127190258/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20100127190258/http://secunia.com/advisories/38316
web.archive.org/web/20100127015355/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20100127015355/http://secunia.com/advisories/38346
support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docdis... WEB
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c02241113
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:7092
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:19431
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r584a71... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r584a714f141eff7b1c358d4679288177bd4ca4558e9999d15867d4b5@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3aacc4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3aacc40356defc3f248aa504b1e48e819dd0471a0a83349080c6bcbf@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dcaf7c... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dcaf7c3894d66cb717646ea1504ea6e300021c85bb4e677dc16b1aa@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/06cfb63... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/06cfb634bc7bf37af7d8f760f118018746ad8efbd519c4b789ac9c2e@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/558... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55857
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2010:05... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010:0582
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2010:05... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010:0580
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2010:01... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010:0119
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-04/msg00001.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-12/msg00089.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-12/msg00090.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-01/msg00037.html
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=127420533226623&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=133469267822771&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=136485229118404&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=892815&view=rev
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=902650&view=rev
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-5.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
ubuntu.com/usn/usn-899-1 WEB
http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-899-1
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2207
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:176
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:177
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0003.html
www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/do... WEB
http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/doc/vsp_vc41_u1_rel_notes.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2009-2902?
CVE-2009-2902 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in Apache Tomcat under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.5.29, 6.0.24 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2009-2902?
Upgrading to 5.5.29, 6.0.24 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tomcat affected?
Yes, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat is affected in releases prior to 5.5.29, 6.0.24. Upgrade your dependency to 5.5.29, 6.0.24 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2009-2902?
CVE-2009-2902 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2009-2902?
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-8wch-9gcg-v2pr",
  "modified" : "2024-02-21T17:35:45Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-02T03:39:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2009-2902" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in Apache Tomcat",
  "details" : "Directory traversal vulnerability in Apache Tomcat 5.5.0 through 5.5.28 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.20 allows remote attackers to delete work-directory files via directory traversal sequences in a WAR filename, as demonstrated by the ...war filename.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
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    },
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ],
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    }
  }, {
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    },
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3aacc40356defc3f248aa504b1e48e819dd0471a0a83349080c6bcbf@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E"
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  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-17T22:10:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2010-01-28T20:30:00Z"
  }
}