CVE-2007-3383 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SendMailServlet in the examples web application (examples/jsp/mail/sendmail.jsp) in Apache Tomcat 4.0.0 through 4.0.6 and 4.1.0 through 4.1.36 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the From field and possibly other fields, related to generation of error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3383 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Apache Tomcat web application examples module, specifically affecting the SendMailServlet component. This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of Tomcat including the 4.0.x series from 4.0.0 through 4.0.6 and the 4.1.x series from 4.1.0 through 4.1.36. The security flaw manifests in the examples/jsp/mail/sendmail.jsp file where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in error message generation contexts. This creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the Tomcat examples web application. When users submit data through the From field of the sendmail.jsp form, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize this input before incorporating it into error messages or response content. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can execute within the context of other users' browsers when they view the error messages or rendered content. The vulnerability extends beyond just the From field to potentially affect other input parameters, making it a broad class of injection flaw that can be exploited across multiple data entry points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote code execution through web-based attacks without requiring authentication or privileged access. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where Tomcat serves as a web application platform for multiple users or where sensitive data is processed through the mail sending functionality. The fact that this affects the examples application means that organizations running vulnerable versions of Tomcat may be exposed to attacks even if they don't actively use the mail functionality, as the examples are often deployed by default and accessible to users. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase through malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Tomcat versions to the latest stable releases where the XSS flaw has been addressed. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, particularly in error handling and user input processing components. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and conducting regular security testing of web applications. Additionally, administrators should consider disabling or removing the examples web application from production environments unless explicitly required for development or testing purposes, as these examples often contain known vulnerabilities and should not be exposed to untrusted users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices that align with industry security standards and best practices for web application development and maintenance.