CVE-2018-1304: Medium severity Apache Tomcat vulnerability

Published Feb 23, 2018
·
Updated

Apache Tomcat versions 7.0.0 to 7.0.84, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.49 and 8.5.0 to 8.5.27 does not properly handle the URL empty string ("") when used as part of a security constraint definition. This can lead to the security constraint being ignored, leading to unitended exposure of resources.

External References:

https://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html#FixedinApacheTomcat7.0.85 https://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html#FixedinApacheTomcat8.0.50 https://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html#FixedinApacheTomcat8.5.28

Upstream Bug Report:

https://bz.apache.org/bugzilla/showbug.cgi?id=62067

Upstream Fixes:

Tomcat 7.0.x:

http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=rev&rev=1823309

Tomcat 8.0.x:

http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=rev&rev=1814827

Tomcat 8.5.x:

http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=rev&rev=1823307

Other sources

The URL pattern of "" (the empty string) which exactly maps to the context root was not correctly handled in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.4, 8.5.0 to 8.5.27, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.49 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.84 when used as part of a security constraint definition. This caused the constraint to be ignored. It was, therefore, possible for unauthorised users to gain access to web application resources that should have been protected. Only security constraints with a URL pattern of the empty string were affected.

Launchpad

Affected Software

91 affected componentsFixes available
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core>=7.0.0<7.0.86
7.0.86
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core>=8.0.0<8.0.51
8.0.51
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core>=8.5.0<8.5.28
8.5.28
maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core>=9.0.0<=9.0.4
9.0.5
Apache Tomcat>=7.0.0<=7.0.84
Apache Tomcat>=8.0.0<=8.0.49
Apache Tomcat>=8.5.0<=8.5.27
Apache Tomcat>=9.0.0<=9.0.4
Apache Tomcat=8.0.0-rc1
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone1
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone10
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone11
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone12
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone13
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone14
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone15
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone16
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone17
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone18
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone19
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone2
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone20
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone21
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone22
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone23
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone24
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone25
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone26
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone27
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone3
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone4
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone5
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone6
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone7
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone8
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-milestone9
All of the following
Any of the following
redhat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform=6
redhat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform=6.4
redhat Jboss Enterprise Web Server=3.0.0
Any of the following
redhat Enterprise Linux=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux=7.0
Debian Debian Linux=7.0
Debian Debian Linux=8.0
Debian Debian Linux=9.0
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=17.10
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
Oracle Fusion Middleware=12.2.1.3.0
Oracle Hospitality Guest Access=4.2.0
Oracle Hospitality Guest Access=4.2.1
Oracle Micros Relate Crm Software=11.4
Oracle Secure Global Desktop=5.3
Oracle Secure Global Desktop=5.4
redhat Jboss Middleware=1
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m1
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m10
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m11
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m12
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m13
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m14
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m15
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m16
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m17
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m18
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m19
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m2
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m20
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m21
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m22
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m23
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m24
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m25
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m26
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m27
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m3
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m4
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m5
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m6
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m7
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m8
Apache Tomcat=9.0.0-m9
redhat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform=6
redhat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform=6.4
redhat Jboss Enterprise Web Server=3.0.0
redhat Enterprise Linux=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux=7.0
redhat/tomcat<7.0.85
7.0.85
redhat/tomcat<8.0.50
8.0.50
redhat/tomcat<8.5.28
8.5.28
debian/tomcat9
9.0.43-2~deb11u109.0.118-0+deb11u19.0.70-29.0.95-19.0.118-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.86
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.0.51
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.5.28
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 9.0.5
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/tomcat to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.85
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/tomcat to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.0.50
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/tomcat to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.5.28
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/tomcat9 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 9.0.43-2~deb11u10Fixed in 9.0.118-0+deb11u1Fixed in 9.0.70-2Fixed in 9.0.95-1Fixed in 9.0.118-1
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache Tomcat 7.0.x to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.85
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache Tomcat 8.0.x to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.0.50
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache Tomcat 8.5.x to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 8.5.28
  12. Compensating control

    Ensure security constraints are not defined with a URL pattern of the empty string (""), since Tomcat 7.0.0 through 7.0.84, 8.0.0.RC1 through 8.0.49, and 8.5.0 through 8.5.27 could ignore such constraints, resulting in unintended exposure of protected resources.

Event History

Feb 23, 2018
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·04:15 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Feb 28, 2018
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:00 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:29 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Oct 17, 2018
Advisory Published
via GitHub·04:31 PM
Data Sourced
via GitHub·04:31 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Aug 25, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·12:06 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 18, 2025
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·12:09 AM
Description
Jun 7, 2026
Data Sourced
via Debian·09:27 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2018-1304?

CVE-2018-1304 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability due to the potential exposure of sensitive resources.

2

How do I fix CVE-2018-1304?

To fix CVE-2018-1304, upgrade Apache Tomcat to versions 7.0.85, 8.0.50, or 8.5.28 and later.

3

What are the affected versions in CVE-2018-1304?

CVE-2018-1304 affects Apache Tomcat versions from 7.0.0 to 7.0.84, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.49, and 8.5.0 to 8.5.27.

4

What type of attack is possible with CVE-2018-1304?

CVE-2018-1304 could allow an attacker to bypass security constraints, leading to unintended resource exposure.

5

Is CVE-2018-1304 exploitable without authentication?

Yes, CVE-2018-1304 can be exploited without authentication, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive resources.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203