CVE-2007-2449 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in certain JSP files in the examples web application in Apache Tomcat 4.0.0 through 4.0.6, 4.1.0 through 4.1.36, 5.0.0 through 5.0.30, 5.5.0 through 5.5.24, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.13 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the portion of the URI after the ; character, as demonstrated by a URI containing a "snp/snoop.jsp;" sequence.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2449 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple versions of Apache Tomcat web server software. This security weakness resides within the examples web application bundled with Tomcat, specifically in various JSP files that process user input from URI parameters. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit the parsing behavior of the web server to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URI parameters, specifically targeting the portion of the URL that appears after the semicolon character. When a malicious user crafts a URI containing sequences such as "snp/snoop.jsp;", the affected Tomcat versions fail to properly sanitize or validate the input data before incorporating it into the web response. This improper input handling creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the JSP processing pipeline, allowing malicious payloads to bypass security controls and execute in the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, modify web page content, or redirect users to phishing sites. The widespread nature of affected Tomcat versions means that organizations running these older software releases were particularly vulnerable, with the vulnerability affecting major release series including Tomcat 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x. This creates a significant risk for enterprises that may have legacy applications still operating on these outdated platforms, potentially exposing sensitive user data and compromising the overall security posture of web applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Apache Tomcat, applying security patches released by the Apache Software Foundation, and implementing proper input validation measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how improper input sanitization can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communication, credential access, and execution of malicious code within user browsers. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, deploying content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses across the application stack.