CVE-2016-8747: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat Allows Remote Attackers Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fjwp-r6fm-q6qw
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-8747 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) apache tomcat allows remote attackers vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat allows remote attackers to read data that was intended to be associated with a different request. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.5.10, 9.0.0.M16.

CVE-2016-8747 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-8747
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fjwp-r6fm-q6qw
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
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:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

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 None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2016-8747

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: 8.5.10 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.10</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 9.0.0.M16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.0.M16</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-2016-8747, 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 8.5.10), 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-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. 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

An information disclosure issue was discovered in Apache Tomcat 8.5.7 to 8.5.9 and 9.0.0.M11 to 9.0.0.M15 in reverse-proxy configurations. Http11InputBuffer.java allows remote attackers to read data that was intended to be associated with a different request.

CVE-2016-8747 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
8.5.109.0.0.M16
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 8.5.7
< 8.5.10
8.5.10
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 9.0.0.M11
< 9.0.0.M16
9.0.0.M16

References

NVD — CVE-2016-8747 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8747
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/452c8094a665ef6375530e81c033da4eeb2e4865
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/9601a937ff3b7ef5d04b2a0e950d0e44e1bb4cbd
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227183332/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96895
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180614-0002
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c144... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c1444845fe15a823e1374674bfc297d5008a5453788099ea14caf0@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c144... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c1444845fe15a823e1374674bfc297d5008a5453788099ea14caf0%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3bbb80... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3bbb800a816d0a51eccc5a228c58736960a9fffafa581a225834d97d@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3bbb80... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3bbb800a816d0a51eccc5a228c58736960a9fffafa581a225834d97d%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/b5e3f51... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b5e3f51d28cd5d9b1809f56594f2cf63dcd6a90429e16ea9f83bbedc@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/b5e3f51... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b5e3f51d28cd5d9b1809f56594f2cf63dcd6a90429e16ea9f83bbedc%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/8885587... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/88855876c33f2f9c532ffb75bfee570ccf0b17ffa77493745af9a17a@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
lists.apache.org/thread.html/8885587... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/88855876c33f2f9c532ffb75bfee570ccf0b17ffa77493745af9a17a%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/6af4712... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6af47120905aa7d8fe12f42e8ff2284fb338ba141d3b77b8c7cb61b3@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/6af4712... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6af47120905aa7d8fe12f42e8ff2284fb338ba141d3b77b8c7cb61b3%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/343558d... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/343558d982879bf88ec20dbf707f8c11255f8e219e81d45c4f8d0551@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/343558d... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/343558d982879bf88ec20dbf707f8c11255f8e219e81d45c4f8d0551%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1774161
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1774166
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96895

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-8747?
CVE-2016-8747 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat allows remote attackers to read data that was intended to be associated with a different request under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 8.5.10, 9.0.0.M16 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2016-8747?
Upgrading to 8.5.10, 9.0.0.M16 (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 8.5.10, 9.0.0.M16. Upgrade your dependency to 8.5.10, 9.0.0.M16 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-8747?
CVE-2016-8747 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-8747?
CVE-2016-8747 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-8747?
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 
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  "database_specific" : {
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-08T22:35:57Z",
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}