CVE-2008-0002 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Tomcat 6.0.0 through 6.0.15 processes parameters in the context of the wrong request when an exception occurs during parameter processing, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, as demonstrated by disconnecting during this processing in order to trigger the exception.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
This vulnerability in Apache Tomcat versions 6.0.0 through 6.0.15 represents a critical parameter processing flaw that stems from improper request context management during exception handling scenarios. The vulnerability manifests when an exception occurs during parameter processing, causing the application server to incorrectly associate subsequent parameter values with the wrong HTTP request context. This misassociation creates a situation where sensitive information from one request can be inadvertently exposed or accessible through another request's context, fundamentally compromising the isolation guarantees that web application servers must maintain.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the servlet container's handling of parameter processing exceptions within the request lifecycle. When an exception occurs during parameter parsing or processing, the Tomcat server fails to properly clean or reset the request context state, allowing parameter values from a previous request to persist and be incorrectly associated with the current request. This behavior creates a race condition and state contamination scenario that violates fundamental security principles of request isolation and proper resource management. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple network disconnection during parameter processing, making it exploitable without requiring sophisticated attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential privilege escalation and data leakage scenarios. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive parameters from other users' requests, potentially obtaining session identifiers, authentication tokens, or other confidential data that should remain isolated between distinct request contexts. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-1216, which addresses improper handling of request context during exception scenarios, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for credential access through application-level vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of web applications running on affected Tomcat versions, particularly those handling sensitive user data or authentication parameters.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Tomcat installations to versions 6.0.16 or later where the issue has been resolved through proper exception handling and context management. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for abnormal parameter processing patterns and ensure that all web applications are regularly updated with security patches. The fix implemented by Apache addresses the root cause by ensuring proper cleanup of request context state during exception scenarios and maintaining strict isolation between individual request processing flows. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all application servers and implement proper input validation and parameter handling practices to prevent similar issues in custom application code that might interact with the Tomcat container.