CVE-2019-12418: Apache Tomcat Insufficiently Protected Credentials Vulnerability

Q: What is CVE-2019-12418?

CVE-2019-12418 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Insufficiently Protected Credentials in Apache Tomcat under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials.

Q: Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core.

Q: What version fixes CVE-2019-12418?

Upgrading to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Q: Is tomcat-embed-core affected?

Yes, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core is affected in releases prior to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29 or later.

Q: What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-12418?

CVE-2019-12418 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.0 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Q: What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-12418?

CVE-2019-12418 is classified under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials (The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.).

Q: How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2019-12418?

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.

HIGH

Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hh3j-x4mc-g48r

CVSS 7.0

CWE-522

Published 2019-12-26

Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-12418 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.0) insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability (CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves insufficiently protected credentials in apache tomcat. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29.

CVE-2019-12418 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-12418

GHSA Identifier GHSA-hh3j-x4mc-g48r

Severity HIGH

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.0

CWE Classification CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials

Affected Product Apache Tomcat

Package Ecosystem Maven

Published Date 2019-12-26

Last Updated 2022-04-19

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.0

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

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)

Attack Complexity High (AC:H)

Privileges Required Low (PR:L)

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-2019-12418

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: 7.0.99

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.99</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 8.5.49

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.49</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 9.0.29

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.29</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-2019-12418, 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 7.0.99), 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-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials, where the product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval. 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 Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.28, 8.5.0 to 8.5.47, 7.0.0 and 7.0.97 is configured with the JMX Remote Lifecycle Listener, a local attacker without access to the Tomcat process or configuration files is able to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack to capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and gain complete control over the Tomcat instance.

CVE-2019-12418 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

3 component(s)

Fixed Versions:

7.0.998.5.499.0.29

Product / Package	Ecosystem	Affected Versions	Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	< 7.0.99	7.0.99
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	≥ 8.0.0 < 8.5.49	8.5.49
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	≥ 9.0.0 < 9.0.29	9.0.29

References

NVD — CVE-2019-12418 NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-12418

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY

https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY

https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4680

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY

https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4596

usn.ubuntu.com/4251-1 WEB

https://usn.ubuntu.com/4251-1

support.f5.com/csp/article/k101073... WEB

https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K10107360?utm_source=f5support&utm_medium=RSS

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY

https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200107-0001

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY

https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-43

seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/dec/43 WEB

https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Dec/43

lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/03/msg00029.html

lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/01/msg00024.html

lists.apache.org/thread.html/raba0fa... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/raba0fabaf4d56d4325ab2aca8814f0b30a237ab83d8106b115ee279a@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6ccee4... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6ccee4e849bc77df0840c7f853f6bd09d426f6741247da2b7429d5d9@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c144... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c1444845fe15a823e1374674bfc297d5008a5453788099ea14caf0@%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/43530b9... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/43530b91506e2e0c11cfbe691173f5df8c48f51b98262426d7493b67%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00013.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-12418?

CVE-2019-12418 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Insufficiently Protected Credentials in Apache Tomcat under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials.

Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core.

What version fixes CVE-2019-12418?

Upgrading to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29 (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 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.99, 8.5.49, 9.0.29 or later.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-12418?

CVE-2019-12418 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.0 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-12418?

CVE-2019-12418 is classified under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials (The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.).

How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2019-12418?

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

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  "published" : "2019-12-26T18:22:36Z",
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  "summary" : "Insufficiently Protected Credentials in Apache Tomcat",
  "details" : "When Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.28, 8.5.0 to 8.5.47, 7.0.0 and 7.0.97 is configured with the JMX Remote Lifecycle Listener, a local attacker without access to the Tomcat process or configuration files is able to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack to capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and gain complete control over the Tomcat instance.",
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    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4680"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200107-0001"
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    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-43"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/03/msg00029.html"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/01/msg00024.html"
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00013.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "HIGH",
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    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-12-23T18:15:00Z"
  }
}

CVSS V3

7.0 HIGH

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)

Attack Complexity High (AC:H)

Privileges Required Low (PR:L)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Unchanged (S:U)

Confidentiality High (C:H)

Integrity High (I:H)

Availability High (A:H)

Vector String

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Advisory Metadata

Source ID: GHSA-hh3j-x4mc-g48r
Schema Version: 1.4.0
Published: 2019-12-26 18:22
Last Modified: 2022-04-19 18:42
Database Record File: advisories/github-reviewed/2019/12/GHSA-hh3j-x4mc-g48r/GHSA-hh3j-x4mc-g48r.json