GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87: Apache Tomcat Tomcat-embed-core Vulnerability

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Advisory Summary

GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87 is a MODERATE tomcat-embed-core vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves tomcat-embed-core. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 9.0.16, 8.5.38.

GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87

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: 9.0.16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.16</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 8.5.38 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.38</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 GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87, 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 9.0.16), 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 General Security Weakness. 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

**Withdrawn:** Duplicate of GHSA-qcxh-w3j9-58qr

GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
9.0.168.5.38
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 9.0.0.M1
< 9.0.16
9.0.16
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core
Maven
≥ 8.5.0
< 8.5.38
8.5.38

References

NVD — GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0199
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87?
GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving tomcat-embed-core under General Security Weakness.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 9.0.16, 8.5.38 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core.
What version fixes GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87?
Upgrading to 9.0.16, 8.5.38 (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 9.0.16, 8.5.38. Upgrade your dependency to 9.0.16, 8.5.38 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87?
GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87?
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-r53m-pfr5-7v87",
  "modified" : "2020-06-17T15:15:06Z",
  "published" : "2019-04-18T14:50:19Z",
  "withdrawn" : "2020-06-17T15:15:06Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Moderate severity vulnerability that affects org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core",
  "details" : "**Withdrawn:** Duplicate of GHSA-qcxh-w3j9-58qr",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0.M1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.0.16"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 9.0.14"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "8.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.5.38"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0199"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-r53m-pfr5-7v87"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-17T15:15:06Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}