Directory Traversal in Apache Tomcat
Apache Tomcat 4.1.0 through 4.1.39, 5.5.0 through 5.5.27, 6.0.0 through 6.0.18, and possibly earlier versions normalizes the target pathname before filtering the query string when using the RequestDispatcher method, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and conduct directory traversal attacks via .. (dot dot) sequences and the WEB-INF directory in a Request.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.40, >= 5.5.0, < 5.5.28, >= 6.0.0, < 6.0.20 | 4.1.40, 5.5.28, 6.0.20 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5515
- https://github.com/apache/tomcat/commit/6b61911f94d6d8d49ee933c5f1882a7e7c336d2c
- https://github.com/apache/tomcat
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/06cfb634bc7bf37af7d8f760f118018746ad8efbd519c4b789ac9c2e%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2b625789e70a9c4756b5a327e6547273ff8bde7e0327af48c5%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dcaf7c3894d66cb717646ea1504ea6e300021c85bb4e677dc16b1aa%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/c62b0e3a7bf23342352a5810c640a94b6db69957c5c19db507004d74%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3aacc40356defc3f248aa504b1e48e819dd0471a0a83349080c6bcbf%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r584a714f141eff7b1c358d4679288177bd4ca4558e9999d15867d4b5%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb71997f506c6cc8b530dd845c084995a9878098846c7b4eacfae8db3%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10422
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:19452
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6445
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-November/msg01156.html
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-November/msg01216.html
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-November/msg01246.html
- http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN63832775/index.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-07/msg00002.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-04/msg00001.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=127420533226623&w=2
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=129070310906557&w=2
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=136485229118404&w=2
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- http://tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html
- http://tomcat.apache.org/security-5.html
- http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2207
- http://www.fujitsu.com/global/support/software/security/products-f/interstage-200902e.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:136
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:138
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:176
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat- Disclosed
- 14.05.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-9737-qmgc-hfr9 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 162
- First → latest
- 12.2018 08.2026
- Without a fix
- 20
- Exploited in attacks
- 1
Severity breakdown
- Critical 8
- High 40
- Medium 102
- Low 12
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 1
- 2020: 2
- 2021: 5
- 2022: 125
- 2023: 3
- 2024: 2
- 2025: 4
- 2026: 19
-
Directory Traversal in Apache Tomcat this entry
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