CVE-2012-4431 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
org/apache/catalina/filters/CsrfPreventionFilter.java in Apache Tomcat 6.x before 6.0.36 and 7.x before 7.0.32 allows remote attackers to bypass the cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection mechanism via a request that lacks a session identifier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4431 represents a critical weakness in Apache Tomcat's CSRF protection mechanism that affects versions prior to 6.0.36 and 7.0.32. This flaw resides within the CsrfPreventionFilter.java component which is designed to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks by validating that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session context. The vulnerability specifically targets the session identifier validation process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent the security controls that should protect applications running on the Tomcat server.
The technical flaw stems from an insufficient validation check that occurs when processing incoming HTTP requests. When a request arrives without a proper session identifier, the filter fails to properly authenticate or reject the request according to the established CSRF protection protocols. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to be legitimate but bypass the session-based authentication mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized operations. The vulnerability essentially creates a condition where the CSRF protection mechanism becomes ineffective against requests that do not contain the expected session tokens or identifiers that would normally be required to validate the request's authenticity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications hosted on affected Tomcat servers. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially leading to data manipulation, account takeovers, or other malicious activities. The impact extends beyond simple session hijacking as the bypassed protection could enable attackers to perform sensitive operations such as changing user passwords, transferring funds, or modifying critical application data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the fundamental security controls that protect against CSRF attacks, which are considered one of the standard attack vectors in web application security.
Organizations running affected Apache Tomcat versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official updates to versions 6.0.36 and 7.0.32, which contain the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. The fix implemented by Apache developers involves strengthening the session identifier validation logic within the CsrfPreventionFilter to ensure that all requests undergo proper authentication checks regardless of whether session identifiers are present. Security teams should also conduct thorough assessments of their web applications to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement additional monitoring for unusual request patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. This issue aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a significant concern for organizations relying on Tomcat as their web application server platform.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management and authentication validation in web security frameworks. It highlights how seemingly minor flaws in security components can have substantial impacts on overall application security posture. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as request validation, additional authentication layers, and comprehensive monitoring to mitigate potential risks associated with this type of vulnerability. The incident underscores the critical need for regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to maintain robust protection against evolving attack vectors in web application environments.