CVE-2011-1183 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Tomcat 7.0.11, when web.xml has no login configuration, does not follow security constraints, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via HTTP requests to a meta-data complete web application. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2011-1088 and CVE-2011-1419.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1183 represents a critical security flaw in Apache Tomcat versions up to 7.0.11 that fundamentally undermines access control mechanisms within web applications. This issue specifically manifests when web applications lack explicit login configuration in their web.xml deployment descriptors, creating a dangerous bypass condition that allows unauthorized users to circumvent intended security restrictions. The vulnerability's significance is compounded by the fact that it emerged from what was intended to be a corrective measure for previously identified security weaknesses, namely CVE-2011-1088 and CVE-2011-1419, demonstrating how security patches can sometimes introduce new attack vectors when not thoroughly validated.
The technical flaw stems from Tomcat's improper handling of security constraints in applications that do not explicitly define authentication requirements through web.xml configuration. When a web application lacks login configuration, the server should enforce appropriate access controls and prevent unauthorized access to protected resources. However, in the affected versions, Tomcat fails to properly evaluate security constraints, allowing remote attackers to make HTTP requests that would normally be restricted. This occurs specifically within metadata-complete web applications where the container's security evaluation process becomes inconsistent, creating a gap in the access control enforcement mechanism that attackers can exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with unauthorized access to protected web application resources without proper authentication or authorization. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass security controls that should restrict access to sensitive functionality, user data, or administrative interfaces. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that rely on metadata-complete configurations, which are common in enterprise environments where web applications may be deployed without explicit security declarations. This creates a dangerous scenario where applications that should be protected by access controls become vulnerable to exploitation, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise depending on the application's security posture.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Apache Tomcat versions that properly address this issue, typically those beyond 7.0.11 where the security fix has been properly implemented. Additionally, administrators should ensure that all web applications explicitly define their authentication requirements in web.xml files, including proper login configuration and security constraint declarations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access, demonstrating how this flaw enables attackers to bypass legitimate authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized system access. Security teams should also implement network-level controls and monitoring to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive audit trails to track access to sensitive application resources.