CVE-2012-4431: Apache Tomcat Cross-Site Request Forgery Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-76vr-72mv-mf3q
Share
CWE-352
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-4431 is a MODERATE cross-site request forgery vulnerability (CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site request forgery in apache tomcat. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 6.0.36, 7.0.32.

CVE-2012-4431 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-4431
GHSA Identifier GHSA-76vr-72mv-mf3q
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Affected Product Apache Tomcat
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-4431

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: 6.0.36 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>6.0.36</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fixed: 7.0.32 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.32</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-2012-4431, 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 6.0.36), 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

org/apache/catalina/filters/CsrfPreventionFilter.java in Apache Tomcat 6.x before 6.0.36 and 7.x before 7.0.32 allows remote attackers to bypass the cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection mechanism via a request that lacks a session identifier.

CVE-2012-4431 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
6.0.367.0.32
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.0.36
6.0.36
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat
Maven
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.32
7.0.32

References

NVD — CVE-2012-4431 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4431
Apache Tomcat Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tomcat
h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/pu... WEB
https://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c03748878
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18541
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-12/msg00089.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-12/msg00090.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-01/msg00037.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-01/msg00051.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-01/msg00080.html
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=136612293908376&w=2
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139344343412337&w=2
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0267.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0268.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0647.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-06... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0648.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-18... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1853.html
svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0... WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0.x/trunk/java/org/apache/catalina/filters/CsrfPreventionFilter.java?r1=1393088&r2=1393087&pathrev=1393088
svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0... WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc7.0.x/trunk/webapps/docs/changelog.xml?r1=1393088&r2=1393087&pathrev=1393088
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1393088
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
Apache Tomcat Security Information SECURITY
http://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1685-1 WEB
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1685-1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-4431?
CVE-2012-4431 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Cross-Site Request Forgery in Apache Tomcat under CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 6.0.36, 7.0.32 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat.
What version fixes CVE-2012-4431?
Upgrading to 6.0.36, 7.0.32 (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 6.0.36, 7.0.32. Upgrade your dependency to 6.0.36, 7.0.32 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-4431?
CVE-2012-4431 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-2012-4431?
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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    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1853.html"
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  }, {
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  "database_specific" : {
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  }
}