CVE-2011-5064: Apache Tomcat Use Of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6cr4-7c7p-p3xv
Share
CWE-321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-5064 is a MODERATE use of hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability (CWE-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves use of hard-coded cryptographic key in apache tomcat. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.5.34, 6.0.33, 7.0.12.

CVE-2011-5064 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-5064
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6cr4-7c7p-p3xv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-5064

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: 5.5.34 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>5.5.34</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 6.0.33 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>6.0.33</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 7.0.12 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.12</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-2011-5064, 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 5.5.34), 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-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key, where the product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key. 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

DigestAuthenticator.java in the HTTP Digest Access Authentication implementation in Apache Tomcat 5.5.x before 5.5.34, 6.x before 6.0.33, and 7.x before 7.0.12 uses Catalina as the hard-coded server secret (aka private key), which makes it easier for remote attackers to bypass cryptographic protection mechanisms by leveraging knowledge of this string, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-1184.

CVE-2011-5064 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.5.346.0.337.0.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 5.5.0
< 5.5.34
5.5.34
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.0.33
6.0.33
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.12
7.0.12

References

NVD — CVE-2011-5064 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-5064
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/8dcaf7c... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dcaf7c3894d66cb717646ea1504ea6e300021c85bb4e677dc16b1aa@%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
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-02/msg00002.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-02/msg00006.html
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2012-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0074.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2012-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0075.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2012-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0076.html
secunia.com/advisories/57126 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/57126
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=rev&rev=1087655
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=rev&rev=1158180
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=rev&rev=1159309
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://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2401

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-5064?
CVE-2011-5064 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key in Apache Tomcat under CWE-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key.
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.5.34, 6.0.33, 7.0.12 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2011-5064?
Upgrading to 5.5.34, 6.0.33, 7.0.12 (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 5.5.34, 6.0.33, 7.0.12. Upgrade your dependency to 5.5.34, 6.0.33, 7.0.12 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-5064?
CVE-2011-5064 is classified under CWE-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key (The product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2011-5064?
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 
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  "database_specific" : {
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}