CVE-2017-12617: Apache Tomcat Unrestricted Upload Of File With Vulnerability

Q: What is CVE-2017-12617?

CVE-2017-12617 is a security vulnerability in Apache Tomcat involving Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type Apache Tomcat under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type.

Q: Which Apache Tomcat versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82 across affected packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core.

Q: What version fixes CVE-2017-12617?

Upgrading to 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Q: Is tomcat-catalina affected?

Yes, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina is affected in releases prior to 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82. Upgrade your dependency to 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82 or later.

Q: Is tomcat-embed-core affected?

Yes, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core is affected in releases prior to 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82. Upgrade your dependency to 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82 or later.

Q: What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-12617?

CVE-2017-12617 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H.

Q: What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-12617?

CVE-2017-12617 is classified under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (The product allows the upload or transfer of dangerous file types that are automatically processed within its environment.).

Q: How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-12617?

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.

HIGH

Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xjgh-84hx-56c5

CVSS 8.1

CWE-434

Published 2022-05-14

Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-12617 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) unrestricted upload of file with vulnerability (CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) affecting Apache Tomcat libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type apache tomcat. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 9.0.1, 8.5.23, 8.0.47, 7.0.82.

CVE-2017-12617 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-12617

GHSA Identifier GHSA-xjgh-84hx-56c5

Severity HIGH

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1

CWE Classification CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

Affected Product Apache Tomcat

Package Ecosystem Maven

Published Date 2022-05-14

Last Updated 2025-10-22

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity High (AC:H)

Privileges Required None (PR:N)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Unchanged (S:U)

Confidentiality High (C:H)

Integrity High (I:H)

Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-12617

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-catalina fixed: 9.0.1

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.1</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 8.5.23

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.23</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 8.0.47

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>8.0.47</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fixed: 7.0.82

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-catalina</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.82</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 9.0.1

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>9.0.1</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 8.5.23

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>8.5.23</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 8.0.47

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>8.0.47</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fixed: 7.0.82

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tomcat.embed</groupId>
    <artifactId>tomcat-embed-core</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.82</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-2017-12617, 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 9.0.1), 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-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, where the product allows the upload or transfer of dangerous file types that are automatically processed within its environment. 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

When running Apache Tomcat versions 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0, 8.5.0 to 8.5.22, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.46 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.81 with HTTP PUTs enabled (e.g. via setting the readonly initialisation parameter of the Default servlet to false) it was possible to upload a JSP file to the server via a specially crafted request. This JSP could then be requested and any code it contained would be executed by the server.

CVE-2017-12617 Affected Apache Tomcat Versions

8 component(s)

Fixed Versions:

9.0.18.5.238.0.477.0.82

Product / Package	Ecosystem	Affected Versions	Fixed Version
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina	Maven	≥ 9.0.0.M1 < 9.0.1	9.0.1
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina	Maven	≥ 8.5.0 < 8.5.23	8.5.23
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina	Maven	≥ 8.0.0-RC1 < 8.0.47	8.0.47
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina maven/org.apache.tomcat/tomcat-catalina	Maven	≥ 7.0.0 < 7.0.82	7.0.82
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	≥ 9.0.0.M1 < 9.0.1	9.0.1
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	≥ 8.5.0 < 8.5.23	8.5.23
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	≥ 8.0.0-RC1 < 8.0.47	8.0.47
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed/tomcat-embed-core	Maven	≥ 7.0.0 < 7.0.82	7.0.82