CVE-2012-3546: Apache Tomcat Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jgm2-m5cg-f66g
Share
CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-3546 is a MODERATE authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves authentication bypass in apache tomcat. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 6.0.36, 7.0.30.

CVE-2012-3546 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-3546
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jgm2-m5cg-f66g
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-3546

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: 6.0.36 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>6.0.36</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 7.0.30 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.30</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-2012-3546, 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 6.0.36), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. 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

org/apache/catalina/realm/RealmBase.java in Apache Tomcat 6.x before 6.0.36 and 7.x before 7.0.30, when FORM authentication is used, allows remote attackers to bypass security-constraint checks by leveraging a previous setUserPrincipal call and then placing /j_security_check at the end of a URI.

CVE-2012-3546 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
6.0.367.0.30
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.0.36
6.0.36
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.30
7.0.30

References

rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0158.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0162.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0163.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0164.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0191.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0192.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0194.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0195.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0196.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0198.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0221.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0235.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0623.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0640.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0641.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0642.html
svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0... WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0.x/trunk/java/org/apache/catalina/realm/RealmBase.java?r1=1377892&r2=1377891&pathrev=1377892
svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0... WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0.x/trunk/webapps/docs/changelog.xml?r1=1377892&r2=1377891&pathrev=1377892
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1377892
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html
NVD — CVE-2012-3546 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3546
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/f78c0cdfc8a3c2efdfe6df6b69e5e3daafa3f588
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A19305
svn.apache.org/repos/asf/tomcat/tc... WEB
https://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/tomcat/tc7.0.x/trunk@1377892
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=136612293908376&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0004.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0005.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0146.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0147.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0151.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0157.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-3546?
CVE-2012-3546 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Authentication Bypass in Apache Tomcat under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 6.0.36, 7.0.30 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2012-3546?
Upgrading to 6.0.36, 7.0.30 (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 6.0.36, 7.0.30. Upgrade your dependency to 6.0.36, 7.0.30 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-3546?
CVE-2012-3546 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2012-3546?
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-jgm2-m5cg-f66g",
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  "published" : "2022-05-17T00:59:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-3546" ],
  "summary" : "Authentication Bypass in Apache Tomcat",
  "details" : "org/apache/catalina/realm/RealmBase.java in Apache Tomcat 6.x before 6.0.36 and 7.x before 7.0.30, when FORM authentication is used, allows remote attackers to bypass security-constraint checks by leveraging a previous setUserPrincipal call and then placing /j_security_check at the end of a URI.",
  "severity" : [ ],
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      } ]
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  }, {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/f78c0cdfc8a3c2efdfe6df6b69e5e3daafa3f588"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A19305"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/tomcat/tc7.0.x/trunk@1377892"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-12/msg00089.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-12/msg00090.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-01/msg00037.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=136612293908376&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0004.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0005.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0146.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0147.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0151.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0157.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0158.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0162.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0191.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0192.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0194.html"
  }, {
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    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0195.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0196.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0198.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0221.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0235.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0623.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0640.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0641.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0642.html"
  }, {
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  }, {
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1377892"
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}