CVE-2007-3386 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Host Manager Servlet for Apache Tomcat 6.0.0 to 6.0.13 and 5.5.0 to 5.5.24 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via crafted requests, as demonstrated using the aliases parameter to an html/add action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3386 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apache Tomcat's Host Manager Servlet component. This weakness exists in versions ranging from 6.0.0 through 6.0.13 and 5.5.0 through 5.5.24, making it a widespread issue affecting multiple major releases of the popular web application server. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the servlet processes requests containing malicious input through the aliases parameter during an html/add action, creating a dangerous vector for remote code execution and user data compromise.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Host Manager Servlet implementation. When attackers submit crafted requests containing HTML tags or JavaScript code through the aliases parameter, the servlet fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before rendering it in the web interface. This lack of proper sanitization creates an XSS attack surface where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against authenticated users of the Tomcat server. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, modify application behavior, or even gain administrative privileges if the Host Manager is accessible to unauthenticated users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the Host Manager component, which typically provides administrative functionality for managing web applications and host configurations. This means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to add new hosts, modify existing configurations, or potentially deploy malicious applications, creating a persistent threat vector within the server environment.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells, as the XSS capability could be used to establish persistent access through malicious script injection. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1566, which involves phishing attacks through malicious web content, since the malicious scripts could be crafted to redirect users to fraudulent sites or harvest credentials. Organizations running affected Tomcat versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their web applications, particularly when the Host Manager is exposed to untrusted networks or when users with administrative privileges access the interface from compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Tomcat versions to the latest stable releases that contain the necessary input validation fixes. Administrators should also implement proper input sanitization measures, including the use of HTML escaping libraries and parameter validation frameworks to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the Host Manager interface to trusted users only. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities in web applications running on the server platform. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly addressing the need for proper sanitization of user-supplied data before rendering it in web interfaces.