CVE-2026-65905: Apache Tomcat Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9xv2-5v5q-p794
CVSS 9.8
CWE-294
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-65905 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-294: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat's digest authenticator has an authentication bypass by capture-replay vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121.

CVE-2026-65905 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-65905
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9xv2-5v5q-p794
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-294: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-65905

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: 11.0.25
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>11.0.25</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 10.1.58
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>10.1.58</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 9.0.121
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.121</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: Latest secure release
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: Latest secure release
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 11.0.25
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>11.0.25</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 10.1.58
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>10.1.58</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 9.0.121
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.121</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: Latest secure release
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: Latest secure release
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 11.0.25
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>11.0.25</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 10.1.58
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>10.1.58</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 9.0.121
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.121</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: Latest secure release
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: Latest secure release
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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-2026-65905, 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 11.0.25), 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-294: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay, where a capture-replay flaw exists when the design of the product makes it possible for a malicious user to sniff network traffic and bypass authentication by replaying it to the server in question to the same effect as the original message (or with minor changes). 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

Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerability in Apache Tomcat's DIGEST authenticator. If, before windowSize requests have been made, a client makes a DIGEST authenticated request with a nonceCount on the upper boundary of the replay window then that request is replayable once only while the associated nonceCount remains within the replay window. This issue affects Apache Tomcat: from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.24, from 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.57, from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.120. The following versions were EOL at the time the CVE was created but are known to be affected: from 8.5.0 through 8.5.100, from 7.0.30 through 7.0.109. Other unsupported versions may also be affected. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 11.0.25, 10.1.58 or 9.0.121, which fix the issue.

CVE-2026-65905 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

15 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
11.0.2510.1.589.0.121
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 11.0.0-M1
< 11.0.25
11.0.25
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 10.1.0-M1
< 10.1.58
10.1.58
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 9.0.0.M1
< 9.0.121
9.0.121
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 8.5.0
≤ 8.5.100
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 7.0.30
≤ 7.0.109
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 11.0.0-M1
< 11.0.25
11.0.25
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 10.1.0-M1
< 10.1.58
10.1.58
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 9.0.0.M1
< 9.0.121
9.0.121
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 8.5.0
≤ 8.5.100
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 7.0.30
≤ 7.0.109
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 11.0.0-M1
< 11.0.25
11.0.25
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 10.1.0-M1
< 10.1.58
10.1.58
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 9.0.0.M1
< 9.0.121
9.0.121
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 8.5.0
≤ 8.5.100
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina
Maven
≥ 7.0.30
≤ 7.0.109

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-65905?
CVE-2026-65905 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat's DIGEST authenticator has an Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerability under CWE-294: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina.
What version fixes CVE-2026-65905?
Upgrading to 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121 (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 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121, Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121, Latest secure release or later.
Is tomcat-embed-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core is affected in releases prior to 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121, Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to 11.0.25, 10.1.58, 9.0.121, Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-65905?
CVE-2026-65905 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-65905?
CVE-2026-65905 is classified under CWE-294: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay (A capture-replay flaw exists when the design of the product makes it possible for a malicious user to sniff network traffic and bypass authentication by replaying it to the server in question to the same effect as the original message (or with minor changes).).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-65905?
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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-9xv2-5v5q-p794",
  "modified" : "2026-09-02T22:38:14Z",
  "published" : "2026-08-26T00:30:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-65905" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat's DIGEST authenticator has an Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerability",
  "details" : "Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerability in Apache Tomcat's DIGEST authenticator. If, before windowSize requests have been made, a client makes a DIGEST authenticated request with a nonceCount on the upper boundary of the replay window then that request is replayable once only while the associated nonceCount remains within the replay window.\n\nThis issue affects Apache Tomcat: from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.24, from 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.57, from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.120.\n\nThe following versions were EOL at the time the CVE was created but are known to be affected: from 8.5.0 through 8.5.100, from 7.0.30 through 7.0.109. Other unsupported versions may also be affected.\n\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 11.0.25, 10.1.58 or 9.0.121, which fix the issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-65905"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/9v114xlpgbzrrbzz5vf9f6r2q4wnxwwj"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/26/4"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-09-02T22:38:14Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-08-25T22:17:05Z"
  }
}