CVE-2023-28709: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat - Fix For Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cx6h-86xw-9x34
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-193
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-28709 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) apache tomcat - fix for vulnerability (CWE-193: Off-by-one Error) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat - fix for cve-2023-24998 was incomplete. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 11.0.0-M5, 10.1.8, 9.0.74, 8.5.88.

CVE-2023-28709 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-28709
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cx6h-86xw-9x34
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-193: Off-by-one Error
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:N/I:N/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 None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-28709

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.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 11.0.0-M5 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>11.0.0-M5</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 10.1.8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>10.1.8</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 9.0.74 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.74</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote fixed: 8.5.88 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-coyote</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.88</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.embed

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-28709, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

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-M5), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tomcat.embed 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-193: Off-by-one Error, where a product calculates or uses an incorrect maximum or minimum value that is 1 more, or 1 less, than the correct value. 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

The fix for CVE-2023-24998 was incomplete. If non-default HTTP connector settings were used such that the maxParameterCount could be reached using query string parameters and a request was submitted that supplied exactly maxParameterCount parameters in the query string, the limit for uploaded request parts could be bypassed with the potential for a denial of service to occur.

CVE-2023-28709 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
11.0.0-M510.1.89.0.748.5.88
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 11.0.0-M2
< 11.0.0-M5
11.0.0-M5
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 10.1.5
< 10.1.8
10.1.8
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 9.0.71
< 9.0.74
9.0.74
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-coyote
Maven
≥ 8.5.85
< 8.5.88
8.5.88

References

NVD — CVE-2023-28709 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28709
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/5badf94e79e5de206fc0ef3054fd536b1bb787cd
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/ba848da71c523d94950d3c53c19ea155189df9dc
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/d53d8e7f77042cc32a3b98f589496a1ef5088e38
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/fbd81421629afe8b8a3922d59020cde81caea861
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
lists.apache.org/thread/7wvxonzwb7k9... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/7wvxonzwb7k9hx9jt3q33cmy7j97jo3j
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-37
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230616-0004
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
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5521
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/22/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-28709?
CVE-2023-28709 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat - Fix for CVE-2023-24998 was incomplete under CWE-193: Off-by-one Error.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 11.0.0-M5, 10.1.8, 9.0.74, 8.5.88 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote.
What version fixes CVE-2023-28709?
Upgrading to 11.0.0-M5, 10.1.8, 9.0.74, 8.5.88 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tomcat-embed-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core is affected in releases prior to 11.0.0-M5, 10.1.8, 9.0.74. Upgrade your dependency to 11.0.0-M5, 10.1.8, 9.0.74 or later.
Is tomcat-coyote affected?
Yes, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote is affected in releases prior to 8.5.88. Upgrade your dependency to 8.5.88 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-28709?
CVE-2023-28709 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-28709?
CVE-2023-28709 is classified under CWE-193: Off-by-one Error (A product calculates or uses an incorrect maximum or minimum value that is 1 more, or 1 less, than the correct value.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-28709?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tomcat.embed'. 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-cx6h-86xw-9x34",
  "modified" : "2024-04-24T19:16:49Z",
  "published" : "2023-07-06T21:14:59Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-28709" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat - Fix for CVE-2023-24998 was incomplete",
  "details" : "The fix for CVE-2023-24998 was incomplete. If non-default HTTP connector settings were used such that the maxParameterCount could be reached using query string parameters and a request was submitted that supplied exactly maxParameterCount parameters in the query string, the limit for uploaded request parts could be bypassed with the potential for a denial of service to occur.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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  } ],
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      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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        "introduced" : "10.1.5"
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.71"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.0.74"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28709"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/5badf94e79e5de206fc0ef3054fd536b1bb787cd"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/ba848da71c523d94950d3c53c19ea155189df9dc"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/d53d8e7f77042cc32a3b98f589496a1ef5088e38"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/fbd81421629afe8b8a3922d59020cde81caea861"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/7wvxonzwb7k9hx9jt3q33cmy7j97jo3j"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-37"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230616-0004"
  }, {
    "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"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5521"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/22/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-193" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-06T23:34:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-05-22T11:15:09Z"
  }
}