CVE-2002-2009: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat Leaks Pathname Information Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-r6cf-cr44-m8rr
Share
CWE-209
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2002-2009 is a MODERATE apache tomcat leaks pathname information vulnerability (CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat leaks pathname information via error message. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2002-2009 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2002-2009
GHSA Identifier GHSA-r6cf-cr44-m8rr
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2002-2009

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: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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-2002-2009, 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 the patched release), 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-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information, where the product generates an error message that includes sensitive information about its environment, users, or associated data. 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 4.0.1 allows remote attackers to obtain the web root path via HTTP requests for JSP files preceded by (1) +/, (2) >/, (3) </, and (4) %20/, which leaks the pathname in an error message.

CVE-2002-2009 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
≤ 4.0.1

References

NVD — CVE-2002-2009 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-2009
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/429... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/42915
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2b625789e70a9c4756b5a327e6547273ff8bde7e0327af48c5%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
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%40%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%40%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/20200302170930/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/4557
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/securityfocus/bugtraq/2002-04/0286.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/securityfocus/bugtraq/2002-04/0297.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2002-2009?
CVE-2002-2009 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat Leaks Pathname Information via Error Message under CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2002-2009?
Upgrading to current release patches (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 Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2002-2009?
CVE-2002-2009 is classified under CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information (The product generates an error message that includes sensitive information about its environment, users, or associated data.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2002-2009?
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-r6cf-cr44-m8rr",
  "modified" : "2025-04-03T16:15:46Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-30T18:22:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2002-2009" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat Leaks Pathname Information via Error Message",
  "details" : "Apache Tomcat 4.0.1 allows remote attackers to obtain the web root path via HTTP requests for JSP files preceded by (1) +/, (2) >/, (3) </, and (4) %20/, which leaks the pathname in an error message.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
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    },
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      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0"
      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-2009"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997f506c6cc8b530dd845c084995a9878098846c7b4eacfae8db3%40%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/20200302170930/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/4557"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/securityfocus/bugtraq/2002-04/0286.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/securityfocus/bugtraq/2002-04/0297.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-209" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-03T16:15:45Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2002-12-31T05:00:00Z"
  }
}