CVE-2008-4308 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
The doRead method in Apache Tomcat 4.1.32 through 4.1.34 and 5.5.10 through 5.5.20 does not return a -1 to indicate when a certain error condition has occurred, which can cause Tomcat to send POST content from one request to a different request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4308 represents a critical flaw in the Apache Tomcat web server implementation that affects versions ranging from 4.1.32 through 4.1.34 and 5.5.10 through 5.5.20. This issue stems from improper error handling within the doRead method, which is responsible for processing incoming HTTP requests. The fundamental problem occurs when the method fails to properly signal error conditions by not returning the expected -1 value that indicates a specific failure state. This technical deficiency creates a scenario where the web server's request processing logic becomes compromised, leading to potentially severe security implications for applications hosted on affected Tomcat instances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests through a dangerous form of request mixing or cross-contamination that can occur during HTTP POST operations. When the doRead method encounters certain error conditions but fails to return the appropriate -1 indicator, the Tomcat server continues processing without properly terminating or flagging the error state. This malfunction allows POST data from one request to be inadvertently transmitted to a subsequent request, creating a scenario where sensitive information could be exposed to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability essentially enables a form of request hijacking or data leakage where the integrity of HTTP communications becomes compromised, potentially exposing session data, user credentials, or other confidential information to malicious actors who can exploit this behavior to intercept or manipulate request content.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, which addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions in software implementations, and represents a specific instance of improper error handling that can lead to information disclosure and request confusion. The flaw operates at the application layer of the OSI model, specifically affecting HTTP request processing within the web server's core functionality. Security researchers have identified this issue as particularly concerning because it can be exploited without requiring special privileges or authentication, making it a significant concern for organizations running vulnerable Tomcat versions. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple versions of Tomcat, creating a widespread exposure surface across numerous web applications and services that rely on this server platform.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to encompass potential session hijacking scenarios where attackers could exploit the request mixing behavior to gain unauthorized access to user sessions. The flaw essentially creates a condition where the web server cannot properly distinguish between different request streams, leading to a scenario where POST parameters from one user's request might be inadvertently associated with another user's request. This behavior can be particularly devastating in applications that process sensitive data such as financial transactions, personal identification information, or confidential business data. Organizations running affected Tomcat versions should immediately implement mitigations including patching to the latest stable releases, implementing additional request validation mechanisms, and monitoring for unusual request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling practices in server-side applications and underscores the need for comprehensive testing of error conditions in web server implementations.