CVE-2014-0050 in Communications Policy Management
Summary
by MITRE
MultipartStream.java in Apache Commons FileUpload before 1.3.1, as used in Apache Tomcat, JBoss Web, and other products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and CPU consumption) via a crafted Content-Type header that bypasses a loop's intended exit conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0050 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Apache Commons FileUpload library version 1.3.1 and earlier. This issue specifically affects the MultipartStream.java component which processes multipart form data commonly used in web applications for file uploads. The vulnerability manifests when the library encounters a specially crafted Content-Type header that manipulates the internal loop conditions, causing the processing routine to enter an infinite loop state that consumes excessive CPU resources.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of boundary delimiters within multipart streams during the parsing process. When a maliciously constructed Content-Type header contains malformed or crafted boundary parameters, the MultipartStream.java implementation fails to properly validate or terminate its parsing loops. This condition creates a scenario where the loop continues indefinitely, leading to sustained high CPU utilization and ultimately causing the affected web server or application to become unresponsive. The vulnerability affects multiple major web application servers including Apache Tomcat and JBoss Web, making it particularly widespread in enterprise environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be exploited by remote attackers to launch denial of service attacks against web applications. The infinite loop consumes system resources continuously, potentially leading to system crashes or making the affected service unavailable to legitimate users. Attackers can trigger this condition with minimal effort by sending a specially crafted HTTP request containing an improperly formatted Content-Type header, making the attack vector both accessible and effective. The vulnerability can be particularly damaging in high-traffic environments where resource exhaustion can cascade into broader system failures.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address this vulnerability, ensuring all instances of Apache Commons FileUpload are updated to version 1.3.1 or later. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect unusual CPU consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened to filter malformed Content-Type headers before they reach the file upload processing components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-835 which addresses infinite loops in software, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the 'Resource Exhaustion' tactic where adversaries consume system resources to deny service to legitimate users. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and request validation mechanisms to further mitigate the risk of exploitation.