Vulnerabilities > CVE-2016-8747 - Information Exposure vulnerability in Apache Tomcat

047910
CVSS 7.5 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
NONE
network
low complexity
apache
CWE-200
nessus
NVD
Published: 2017-03-14
Updated: 2023-12-08

Summary

An information disclosure issue was discovered in Apache Tomcat 8.5.7 to 8.5.9 and 9.0.0.M11 to 9.0.0.M15 in reverse-proxy configurations. Http11InputBuffer.java allows remote attackers to read data that was intended to be associated with a different request.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Apache
6

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Subverting Environment Variable Values
    The attacker directly or indirectly modifies environment variables used by or controlling the target software. The attacker's goal is to cause the target software to deviate from its expected operation in a manner that benefits the attacker.
  • Footprinting
    An attacker engages in probing and exploration activity to identify constituents and properties of the target. Footprinting is a general term to describe a variety of information gathering techniques, often used by attackers in preparation for some attack. It consists of using tools to learn as much as possible about the composition, configuration, and security mechanisms of the targeted application, system or network. Information that might be collected during a footprinting effort could include open ports, applications and their versions, network topology, and similar information. While footprinting is not intended to be damaging (although certain activities, such as network scans, can sometimes cause disruptions to vulnerable applications inadvertently) it may often pave the way for more damaging attacks.
  • Exploiting Trust in Client (aka Make the Client Invisible)
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities in client/server communication channel authentication and data integrity. It leverages the implicit trust a server places in the client, or more importantly, that which the server believes is the client. An attacker executes this type of attack by placing themselves in the communication channel between client and server such that communication directly to the server is possible where the server believes it is communicating only with a valid client. There are numerous variations of this type of attack.
  • Browser Fingerprinting
    An attacker carefully crafts small snippets of Java Script to efficiently detect the type of browser the potential victim is using. Many web-based attacks need prior knowledge of the web browser including the version of browser to ensure successful exploitation of a vulnerability. Having this knowledge allows an attacker to target the victim with attacks that specifically exploit known or zero day weaknesses in the type and version of the browser used by the victim. Automating this process via Java Script as a part of the same delivery system used to exploit the browser is considered more efficient as the attacker can supply a browser fingerprinting method and integrate it with exploit code, all contained in Java Script and in response to the same web page request by the browser.
  • Session Credential Falsification through Prediction
    This attack targets predictable session ID in order to gain privileges. The attacker can predict the session ID used during a transaction to perform spoofing and session hijacking.

Nessus

  • NASL familyWeb Servers
    NASL idTOMCAT_9_0_0_M17.NASL
    descriptionThe version of Apache Tomcat installed on the remote host is 9.0.0.M11 or later but prior to 9.0.0.M17. It is, therefore, affected by an information disclosure vulnerability in the nextRequest() function in Http11InputBuffer.java due to improper limits of a ByteBuffer being set. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to disclose ByteBuffer data associated with a different request. Note that Nessus has not attempted to exploit this issue but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-03-18
    modified2017-04-13
    plugin id99362
    published2017-04-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/99362
    titleApache Tomcat 9.0.0.M11 < 9.0.0.M17 nextRequest Information Disclosure
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(99362);
  script_version("1.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/11");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-8747");
  script_bugtraq_id(96895);

  script_name(english:"Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M11 < 9.0.0.M17 nextRequest Information Disclosure");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the Apache Tomcat version.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote Apache Tomcat server is affected by an information
disclosure vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Apache Tomcat installed on the remote host is 9.0.0.M11
or later but prior to 9.0.0.M17. It is, therefore, affected by an
information disclosure vulnerability in the nextRequest() function in
Http11InputBuffer.java due to improper limits of a ByteBuffer being
set. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to disclose
ByteBuffer data associated with a different request.

Note that Nessus has not attempted to exploit this issue but has
instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.");
  # https://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html#Fixed_in_Apache_Tomcat_9.0.0.M17
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?3d171616");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Apache Tomcat version 9.0.0.M17 or later.

Note that the vulnerability was also fixed in version 9.0.0.M16;
however, this version was never publicly released.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-8747");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/03/13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/01/16");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/04/13");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"combined");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:apache:tomcat");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"all");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Web Servers");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("tomcat_error_version.nasl", "tomcat_win_installed.nbin", "apache_tomcat_nix_installed.nbin");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/Apache Tomcat");

  exit(0);
}

include("tomcat_version.inc");
tomcat_check_version(fixed:"9.0.0.M16", fixed_display: "9.0.0.M17", min:"9.0.0.M11", severity:SECURITY_WARNING, granularity_regex:"^(9(\.0(\.0)?)?)$");
  • NASL familyPhotonOS Local Security Checks
    NASL idPHOTONOS_PHSA-2017-0012.NASL
    descriptionAn update of [apache-tomcat] package for PhotonOS has been released.
    last seen2019-02-08
    modified2019-02-07
    plugin id111861
    published2018-08-17
    reporterTenable
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/index.php?view=single&id=111861
    titlePhoton OS 1.0: Apache PHSA-2017-0012 (deprecated)
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# @DEPRECATED@
#
# Disabled on 2/7/2019
#

# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
# extracted from VMware Security Advisory PHSA-2017-0012. The text
# itself is copyright (C) VMware, Inc.

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(111861);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/02/07 18:59:50");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-8747");

  script_name(english:"Photon OS 1.0: Apache PHSA-2017-0012 (deprecated)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the rpm output for the updated packages.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"This plugin has been deprecated.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"An update of [apache-tomcat] package for PhotonOS has been released.");
  # https://github.com/vmware/photon/wiki/Security-Updates-36
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?7e362a6b");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"n/a.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-8747");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/04/20");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2018/08/17");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:vmware:photonos:apache");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:vmware:photonos:1.0");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"PhotonOS Local Security Checks");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2018-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/PhotonOS/release", "Host/PhotonOS/rpm-list");

  exit(0);
}

exit(0, "This plugin has been deprecated.");

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("rpm.inc");

if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);

release = get_kb_item("Host/PhotonOS/release");
if (isnull(release) || release !~ "^VMware Photon") audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "PhotonOS");
if (release !~ "^VMware Photon (?:Linux|OS) 1\.0(\D|$)") audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "PhotonOS 1.0");

if (!get_kb_item("Host/PhotonOS/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "PhotonOS", cpu);

flag = 0;

pkgs = [
  "apache-tomcat-8.5.13-1.ph1"
];

foreach (pkg in pkgs)
  if (rpm_check(release:"PhotonOS-1.0", reference:pkg)) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  security_report_v4(
    port       : 0,
    severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
    extra      : rpm_report_get()
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  tested = pkg_tests_get();
  if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
  else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "apache");
}
  • NASL familyWeb Servers
    NASL idTOMCAT_8_5_11.NASL
    descriptionThe version of Apache Tomcat installed on the remote host is 8.5.7 or later but prior to 8.5.11. It is, therefore, affected by an information disclosure vulnerability in the nextRequest() function in Http11InputBuffer.java due to improper limits of a ByteBuffer being set. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to disclose ByteBuffer data associated with a different request. Note that Nessus has not attempted to exploit this issue but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-03-18
    modified2017-04-13
    plugin id99361
    published2017-04-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/99361
    titleApache Tomcat 8.5.7 < 8.5.11 nextRequest Information Disclosure
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(99361);
  script_version("1.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/11");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-8747");
  script_bugtraq_id(96895);

  script_name(english:"Apache Tomcat 8.5.7 < 8.5.11 nextRequest Information Disclosure");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the Apache Tomcat version.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote Apache Tomcat server is affected by an information
disclosure vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Apache Tomcat installed on the remote host is 8.5.7
or later but prior to 8.5.11. It is, therefore, affected by an
information disclosure vulnerability in the nextRequest() function in
Http11InputBuffer.java due to improper limits of a ByteBuffer being
set. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to disclose
ByteBuffer data associated with a different request.

Note that Nessus has not attempted to exploit this issue but has
instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.");
  # https://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html#Fixed_in_Apache_Tomcat_8.5.11
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?09e0bc40");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Apache Tomcat version 8.5.11 or later.

Note that the vulnerability was also fixed in version 8.5.10; however,
this version was never publicly released.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-8747");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/03/13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/01/16");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/04/13");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"combined");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:apache:tomcat");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"all");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Web Servers");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("tomcat_error_version.nasl", "tomcat_win_installed.nbin", "apache_tomcat_nix_installed.nbin");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/Apache Tomcat");

  exit(0);
}

include("tomcat_version.inc");
tomcat_check_version(fixed:"8.5.10", fixed_display:"8.5.11", min:"8.5.7", severity:SECURITY_WARNING, granularity_regex:"^(8(\.5))?$");

References