CVE-2003-0042: Apache Tomcat Jakarta Tomcat Directory Listing Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qfw2-wvrw-mvw4
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CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2003-0042 is a MODERATE jakarta tomcat directory listing vulnerability 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 jakarta tomcat directory listing vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.3.1a.

CVE-2003-0042 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2003-0042
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qfw2-wvrw-mvw4
Severity MODERATE
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-2003-0042

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: 3.3.1a 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>3.3.1a</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-2003-0042, 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 3.3.1a), 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

Jakarta Tomcat before 3.3.1a, when used with JDK 1.3.1 or earlier, allows remote attackers to list directories even with an index.html or other file present, or obtain unprocessed source code for a JSP file, via a URL containing a null character.

CVE-2003-0042 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.3.1a
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
< 3.3.1a
3.3.1a

References

NVD — CVE-2003-0042 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0042
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/111... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/11194
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomc... WEB
http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomcat/release/v3.3.1a
jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomc... WEB
http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomcat/release/v3.3.1a/RELEASE-NOTES-3.3.1a.txt
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104394568616290&w=2
secunia.com/advisories/7972 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/7972
secunia.com/advisories/7977 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/7977
www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-06... WEB
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-060.shtml
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-246
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/advisories/5111
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/6721

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2003-0042?
CVE-2003-0042 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Jakarta Tomcat Directory Listing 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 3.3.1a across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2003-0042?
Upgrading to 3.3.1a (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 3.3.1a. Upgrade your dependency to 3.3.1a or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2003-0042?
CVE-2003-0042 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-2003-0042?
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-qfw2-wvrw-mvw4",
  "modified" : "2023-09-18T22:43:32Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-29T01:25:43Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2003-0042" ],
  "summary" : "Jakarta Tomcat Directory Listing vulnerability",
  "details" : "Jakarta Tomcat before 3.3.1a, when used with JDK 1.3.1 or earlier, allows remote attackers to list directories even with an index.html or other file present, or obtain unprocessed source code for a JSP file, via a URL containing a null character.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.1a"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0042"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/11194"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/tomcat"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomcat/release/v3.3.1a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomcat/release/v3.3.1a/RELEASE-NOTES-3.3.1a.txt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104394568616290&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/7972"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/7977"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-060.shtml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-246"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/advisories/5111"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/6721"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-09-18T22:43:32Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2003-02-07T05:00:00Z"
  }
}