CVE-2011-2481: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat Allows Replacing Of Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-r7c8-hghc-2mp8
Share
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-2481 is a MODERATE apache tomcat allows replacing of vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat allows replacing of xml parser. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.0.17.

CVE-2011-2481 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-2481
GHSA Identifier GHSA-r7c8-hghc-2mp8
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-2481

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: 7.0.17 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.17</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-2011-2481, 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 7.0.17), 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-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. 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 7.0.x before 7.0.17 permits web applications to replace an XML parser used for other web applications, which allows local users to read or modify the (1) web.xml, (2) context.xml, or (3) tld files of arbitrary web applications via a crafted application that is loaded earlier than the target application. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of a CVE-2009-0783 regression.

CVE-2011-2481 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
7.0.17
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.17
7.0.17

References

NVD — CVE-2011-2481 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2481
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/279e4451cb996f810fbca2f78b6340412d9daa7b
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
issues.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.c... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=51395
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20111209022500/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/49147
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20161127215021/http://securitytracker.com/id?1025924
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1137753
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1138788
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-2481?
CVE-2011-2481 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat Allows Replacing of XML Parser under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 7.0.17 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2011-2481?
Upgrading to 7.0.17 (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 7.0.17. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.17 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-2481?
CVE-2011-2481 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2011-2481?
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-r7c8-hghc-2mp8",
  "modified" : "2024-02-21T21:35:06Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T02:44:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-2481" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat Allows Replacing of XML Parser",
  "details" : "Apache Tomcat 7.0.x before 7.0.17 permits web applications to replace an XML parser used for other web applications, which allows local users to read or modify the (1) web.xml, (2) context.xml, or (3) tld files of arbitrary web applications via a crafted application that is loaded earlier than the target application.  NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of a CVE-2009-0783 regression.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.0.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2481"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/279e4451cb996f810fbca2f78b6340412d9daa7b"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=51395"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20111209022500/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/49147"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20161127215021/http://securitytracker.com/id?1025924"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1137753"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1138788"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-02-14T00:50:47Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2011-08-15T21:55:00Z"
  }
}