CVE-2015-5351: Apache Tomcat Apache Tomcat Allows Remote Attackers Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w7cg-5969-678w
CVSS 8.8
CWE-352
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-5351 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) apache tomcat allows remote attackers vulnerability (CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tomcat allows remote attackers to bypass a csrf protection mechanism by using a token. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.0.68, 8.0.31, 9.0.0.M2.

CVE-2015-5351 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-5351
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w7cg-5969-678w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2015-5351

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: 7.0.68
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.68</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 8.0.31
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>8.0.31</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 9.0.0.M2
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.0.M2</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-2015-5351, 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 7.0.68), 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-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), where the web application does not, or cannot, sufficiently verify whether a request was intentionally provided by the user who sent the request, which could have originated from an unauthorized actor. 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

The (1) Manager and (2) Host Manager applications in Apache Tomcat 7.x before 7.0.68, 8.x before 8.0.31, and 9.x before 9.0.0.M2 establish sessions and send CSRF tokens for arbitrary new requests, which allows remote attackers to bypass a CSRF protection mechanism by using a token.

CVE-2015-5351 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
7.0.688.0.319.0.0.M2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
< 7.0.68
7.0.68
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 8.0.0
< 8.0.31
8.0.31
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
Maven
≥ 9.0.0.M0
< 9.0.0.M2
9.0.0.M2

References

Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3552
NVD — CVE-2015-5351 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-5351
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1087
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1088
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa118
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/pu... WEB
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05150442
h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/pu... WEB
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05158626
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c@%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201705-09
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180531-0001
softwaresupport.hpe.com/document/-/facetsea... WEB
https://softwaresupport.hpe.com/document/-/facetsearch/document/KM02978021
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20160321234551/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035069
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20161020161943/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/83330
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00047.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00069.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00085.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135882/Apache-Tomcat-CSRF-Token-Leak.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-10... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1089.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-25... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2599.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-28... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2807.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-28... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2808.html
seclists.org/bugtraq/2016/feb/14... WEB
http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2016/Feb/148
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1720652
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1720655
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1720658
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1720660
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1720661
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1720663
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3530
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3609
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3024-1 WEB
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3024-1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-5351?
CVE-2015-5351 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Apache Tomcat allows remote attackers to bypass a CSRF protection mechanism by using a token under CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 7.0.68, 8.0.31, 9.0.0.M2 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2015-5351?
Upgrading to 7.0.68, 8.0.31, 9.0.0.M2 (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 7.0.68, 8.0.31, 9.0.0.M2. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.68, 8.0.31, 9.0.0.M2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2015-5351?
CVE-2015-5351 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-5351?
CVE-2015-5351 is classified under CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (The web application does not, or cannot, sufficiently verify whether a request was intentionally provided by the user who sent the request, which could have originated from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2015-5351?
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
{
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  "id" : "GHSA-w7cg-5969-678w",
  "modified" : "2023-12-08T22:36:54Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T03:13:01Z",
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  "details" : "The (1) Manager and (2) Host Manager applications in Apache Tomcat 7.x before 7.0.68, 8.x before 8.0.31, and 9.x before 9.0.0.M2 establish sessions and send CSRF tokens for arbitrary new requests, which allows remote attackers to bypass a CSRF protection mechanism by using a token.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00047.html"
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    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00085.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/135882/Apache-Tomcat-CSRF-Token-Leak.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1089.html"
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    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2599.html"
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    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html"
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  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-352" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-08T22:36:54Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-02-25T01:59:00Z"
  }
}