CVE-2020-1938
highpriority · act · 90OT risk · criticalKEV · exploitedEPSS 0.993 · 100 %ileexploit · functionalDEEUNLRUUSadded 2022-03-03remediate by 2022-03-17
required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS · scored 2026-10-22
Apache Tomcat Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat. Tomcat treats AJP connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they can be exploited in ways that may be surprising. In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.30, 8.5.0 to 8.5.50 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.99, Tomcat shipped with an AJP Connector enabled by default that listened on all configured IP addresses. It was expected (and recommended in the security guide) that this Connector would be disabled if not required. This vulnerability report identified a mechanism that allowed: - returning arbitrary files from anywhere in the web application - processing any file in the web application as a JSP Further, if the web application allowed file upload and stored those files within the web application (or the attacker was able to control the content of the web application by some other means) then this, along with the ability to process a file as a JSP, made remote code execution possible. It is important to note that mitigation is only required if an AJP port is accessible to untrusted users. Users wishing to take a defence-in-depth approach and block the vector that permits returning arbitrary files and execution as JSP may upgrade to Apache Tomcat 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later. A number of changes were made to the default AJP Connector configuration in 9.0.31 to harden the default configuration. It is likely that users upgrading to 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later will need to make small changes to their configurations.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedVue Motioncisa_csaf_ot
Philips released Version 12.2.1.5 in June of 2020 for Vue Motion that remediates CWE-324 and recommends contacting support below.
- FixedVue MyVuecisa_csaf_ot
Philips released Version 12.2.1.5 in June of 2020 for MyVue that remediates CWE-693 and recommends contacting support below.
- FixedVue PACScisa_csaf_ot
Philips released Version 12.2.8.0 in May of 2021 for PACS that remediates CWE-20, CWE-119, CWE-287 and recommends contacting support below.
- FixedVue Speechcisa_csaf_ot
Philips released Version 12.2.8.0 in May of 2021 for Speech that remediates CWE-693, CWE-319, CWE-119, CWE-287, and CWE-1214 and recommends contacting support below.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · high–critical · 7.5–9.8
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
exploits (43)
Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.
- EDB-49039Apache Tomcat - AJP 'Ghostcat' File Read/Inclusion (Metasploit)functional · exploit_db
- auxiliary/admin/http/tomcat_ghostcatApache Tomcat AJP File Readfunctional · metasploit
- EDB-48143Apache Tomcat - AJP 'Ghostcat File Read/InclusionPoC · exploit_db
affected products (150)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- Avaya Aura Application Enablement Servicesall versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:avaya:aura_application_enablement_services:-
advisories (6)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- NCSC-2025-0123Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Oracle Database ProductenNL2025-04-16csaf · ncsc_nlNL
Oracle heeft kwetsbaarheden verholpen in diverse Oracle Database Producten en subsystemen, zoals Oracle Server, NoSQL, TimesTen, Secure Backup en Essbase.
- WID-SEC-W-2023-2480Apache Tomcat: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit den Rechten des DienstesDeutsch2020-02-20csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in Apache Tomcat ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode mit den Rechten des Dienstes auszuführen.
- WID-SEC-W-2024-0528Dell Data Protection Advisor: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2024-02-29csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Dell Data Protection Advisor ausnutzen, um beliebigen Code auszuführen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand herbeizuführen, Dateien zu manipulieren, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen, seine Berechtigungen zu erweitern oder einen nicht spezifizierten Angriff durchzuführen.
- GHSA-c9hw-wf7x-jp9jImproper Privilege Management in Tomcat2020-06-15ghsa · osvUS
When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat. Tomcat treats AJP connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they can be exploited in ways that may be surprising. In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.30, 8.5.0 to 8.5.50 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.99, Tomcat shipped with an AJP Connector enabled by default that listened on all configured IP addresses. It was expected (and recommended in the security guide) that this Connector would be disabled if not required. This vulnerability report identified a mechanism that allowed: returning arbitrary files from anywhere in the web application, processing any file in the web application as a JSP Further, if the web application allowed file upload and stored those files within the web application (or the attacker was able to control the content of the web application by some other means) then this, along with the ability to process a file as a JSP, made remote code execution possible. It is important to note that mitigation is only required if an AJP port is accessible to untrusted users. Users wishing to take a defence-in-depth approach and block the vector that permits returning arbitrary files and execution as JSP may upgrade to Apache Tomcat 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later. A number of changes were made to the default AJP Connector configuration in 9.0.31 to harden the default configuration. It is likely that users upgrading to 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later will need to make small changes to their configurations.
- ICSMA-21-187-01Philips Vue PACS (Update B)2021-07-06icsa · cisa_csaf_otUS
Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an unauthorized person or process to eavesdrop, view or modify data, gain system access, perform code execution, install unauthorized software, or affect system data integrity in such a way as to negatively impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system.
- BIT-tomcat-2020-19382026-05-18vendor · osvUS
When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat. Tomcat treats AJP connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they can be exploited in ways that may be surprising. In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0 to 9.0.0.30, 8.5.0 to 8.5.50 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.99, Tomcat shipped with an AJP Connector enabled by default that listened on all configured IP addresses. It was expected (and recommended in the security guide) that this Connector would be disabled if not required. This vulnerability report identified a mechanism that allowed: - returning arbitrary files from anywhere in the web application - processing any file in the web application as a JSP Further, if the web application allowed file upload and stored those files within the web application (or the attacker was able to control the content of the web application by some other means) then this, along with the ability to process a file as a JSP, made remote code execution possible. It is important to note that mitigation is only required if an AJP port is accessible to untrusted users. Users wishing to take a defence-in-depth approach and block the vector that permits returning arbitrary files and execution as JSP may upgrade to Apache Tomcat 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later. A number of changes were made to the default AJP Connector configuration in 9.0.31 to harden the default configuration. It is likely that users upgrading to 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later will need to make small changes to their configurations.
also known as (6)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (200)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-03/msg00025.htmlcnnvd
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-05/msg00002.htmlcnnvd
- http://support.blackberry.com/kb/articleDetail?articleNumber=000062739cnnvd
- http://tomcat.apache.org/Patchcnnvd
- http://www.nsfocus.net/vulndb/45940cnnvd
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r089dc67c0358a1556dd279c762c74f32d7a254a54836b7ee2d839d8e@%3Cdev.tomee.apache.org%3Ecnnvd
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3Ecnnvd
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r17aaa3a05b5b7fe9075613dd0c681efa60a4f8c8fbad152c61371b6e@%3Cusers.tomcat.apache.org%3Ecnnvd
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