CVE-2002-0493: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat May Be Started Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-p543-jg43-9pm5
Share
CWE-276
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2002-0493 is a HIGH apache tomcat may be started vulnerability (CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat may be started without proper security settings. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0b7.

CVE-2002-0493 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2002-0493
GHSA Identifier GHSA-p543-jg43-9pm5
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2002-0493

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: 4.0b7 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>4.0b7</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-2002-0493, 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 4.0b7), 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-276: Incorrect Default Permissions, where during installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files. 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

Apache Tomcat may be started without proper security settings if errors are encountered while reading the `web.xml` file, which could allow attackers to bypass intended restrictions.

CVE-2002-0493 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0b7
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
< 4.0b7
4.0b7

References

NVD — CVE-2002-0493 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-0493
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2b625789e70a9c4756b5a327e6547273ff8bde7e0327af48c5@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/c62b0e3... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/c62b0e3a7bf23342352a5810c640a94b6db69957c5c19db507004d74@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997f506c6cc8b530dd845c084995a9878098846c7b4eacfae8db3@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20020903071650/http://www.iss.net/security_center/static/9863.php
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=101709002410365&w=2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2002-0493?
CVE-2002-0493 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat may be started without proper security settings under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0b7 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2002-0493?
Upgrading to 4.0b7 (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 4.0b7. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0b7 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2002-0493?
CVE-2002-0493 is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions (During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2002-0493?
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-p543-jg43-9pm5",
  "modified" : "2024-02-12T18:18:48Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-30T18:19:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2002-0493" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat may be started without proper security settings",
  "details" : "Apache Tomcat may be started without proper security settings if errors are encountered while reading the `web.xml` file, which could allow attackers to bypass intended restrictions.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0b7"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-0493"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2b625789e70a9c4756b5a327e6547273ff8bde7e0327af48c5@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/c62b0e3a7bf23342352a5810c640a94b6db69957c5c19db507004d74@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997f506c6cc8b530dd845c084995a9878098846c7b4eacfae8db3@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20020903071650/http://www.iss.net/security_center/static/9863.php"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=101709002410365&w=2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-02-12T18:18:48Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2002-08-12T04:00:00Z"
  }
}