CVE-2007-5461: Apache Tomcat Path Traversal Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-v5p2-vg3c-pmrr
Share
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2007-5461 is a LOW path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat path traversal vulnerability. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2007-5461 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2007-5461
GHSA Identifier GHSA-v5p2-vg3c-pmrr
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2007-5461

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>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
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-2007-5461, 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. 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

Absolute path traversal vulnerability in Apache Tomcat 4.0.0 through 4.0.6, 4.1.0, 5.0.0, 5.5.0 through 5.5.25, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.14, under certain configurations, allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a WebDAV write request that specifies an entity with a SYSTEM tag.

CVE-2007-5461 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

5 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
≤ 4.0.6
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
4.1.0
All 1 versions
4.1.0
None specified
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
5.0.0
All 1 versions
5.0.0
None specified
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 5.5.0
≤ 5.5.25
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
≤ 6.0.14

References

NVD — CVE-2007-5461 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-5461
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/1e7b31e24801777f4de45d565f6a20a5377dd22c
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/901292cf9d7d8225f8a3b96c7583e2bd8b41772d
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/372... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/37243
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
lists.apache.org/thread.html/06cfb63... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/06cfb634bc7bf37af7d8f760f118018746ad8efbd519c4b789ac9c2e@%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/8dcaf7c... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dcaf7c3894d66cb717646ea1504ea6e300021c85bb4e677dc16b1aa@%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/r3aacc4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3aacc40356defc3f248aa504b1e48e819dd0471a0a83349080c6bcbf@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r584a71... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r584a714f141eff7b1c358d4679288177bd4ca4558e9999d15867d4b5@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997f506c6cc8b530dd845c084995a9878098846c7b4eacfae8db3@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-pac... WEB
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2007-November/msg00525.html
geronimo.apache.org/2007/10/18/potentia... WEB
http://geronimo.apache.org/2007/10/18/potential-vulnerability-in-apache-tomcat-webdav-servlet.html
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/geronim... WEB
http://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/GERONIMO-3549
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008//Jun/msg00002.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008/Oct/msg00001.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-03/msg00001.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-02/msg00002.html
mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/tomcat-use... WEB
http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/tomcat-users/200710.mbox/%3C47135C2D.1000705@apache.org%3E
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=full-disclosure&m=119239530508382
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2008-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2008-0630.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200804-10.xml
support.apple.com/kb/ht2163 WEB
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2163
support.apple.com/kb/ht3216 WEB
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3216
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-5.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1447
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1453
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0042.html
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0195.html
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0261.html
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0862.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2007-5461?
CVE-2007-5461 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat Path Traversal Vulnerability under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
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-2007-5461?
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-2007-5461?
CVE-2007-5461 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2007-5461?
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-v5p2-vg3c-pmrr",
  "modified" : "2024-01-08T22:09:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-01T18:33:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2007-5461" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tomcat Path Traversal Vulnerability",
  "details" : "Absolute path traversal vulnerability in Apache Tomcat 4.0.0 through 4.0.6, 4.1.0, 5.0.0, 5.5.0 through 5.5.25, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.14, under certain configurations, allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a WebDAV write request that specifies an entity with a SYSTEM tag.",
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
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    "url" : "http://geronimo.apache.org/2007/10/18/potential-vulnerability-in-apache-tomcat-webdav-servlet.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/GERONIMO-3549"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008//Jun/msg00002.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008/Oct/msg00001.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-03/msg00001.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-02/msg00002.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
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    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2"
  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2008-0630.html"
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2163"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1447"
  }, {
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    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1453"
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  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
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}