CVE-2003-0044: Apache Tomcat Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-5hgm-qm5m-5vmw
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CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2003-0044 is a MODERATE cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jakarta tomcat cross-site scripting (xss) vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.3.2.

CVE-2003-0044 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2003-0044
GHSA Identifier GHSA-5hgm-qm5m-5vmw
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2003-0044

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: 3.3.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>3.3.2</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-2003-0044, 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 3.3.2), 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. 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

Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the (1) examples and (2) ROOT web applications for Jakarta Tomcat 3.x through 3.3.1a allow remote attackers to insert arbitrary web script or HTML.

CVE-2003-0044 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.3.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 3.0
< 3.3.2
3.3.2

References

NVD — CVE-2003-0044 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0044
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/111... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/11196
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
secunia.com/advisories/7972 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/7972
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
www.osvdb.org/9203 WEB
http://www.osvdb.org/9203
www.osvdb.org/9204 WEB
http://www.osvdb.org/9204
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/advisories/5111
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/6720

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2003-0044?
CVE-2003-0044 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Jakarta Tomcat cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.3.2 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2003-0044?
Upgrading to 3.3.2 (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 3.3.2. Upgrade your dependency to 3.3.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2003-0044?
CVE-2003-0044 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2003-0044?
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-5hgm-qm5m-5vmw",
  "modified" : "2023-09-18T22:43:30Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-29T01:25:44Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2003-0044" ],
  "summary" : "Jakarta Tomcat cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability",
  "details" : "Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the (1) examples and (2) ROOT web applications for Jakarta Tomcat 3.x through 3.3.1a allow remote attackers to insert arbitrary web script or HTML.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tomcat:tomcat"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.3.1a"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0044"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/11196"
  }, {
    "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://secunia.com/advisories/7972"
  }, {
    "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.osvdb.org/9203"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.osvdb.org/9204"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/advisories/5111"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/6720"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-09-18T22:43:30Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2003-02-07T05:00:00Z"
  }
}