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Apache Tomcat Improper Input Validation vulnerability

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Oct 10, 2023 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Aug 8, 2025

Package

maven org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven)

Affected versions

>= 11.0.0-M1, < 11.0.0-M12
>= 10.1.0-M1, < 10.1.14
>= 9.0.0-M1, < 9.0.81
>= 8.5.0, < 8.5.94

Patched versions

11.0.0-M12
10.1.14
9.0.81
8.5.94
maven org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven)
>= 11.0.0-M1, < 11.0.0-M12
>= 10.1.0-M1, < 10.1.14
>= 9.0.0-M1, < 9.0.81
>= 8.5.0, < 8.5.94
11.0.0-M12
10.1.14
9.0.81
8.5.94

Description

Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Apache Tomcat.

Tomcat from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M11, from 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.13, from 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.81 and from 8.5.0 through 8.5.93 did not correctly parse HTTP trailer headers. A specially crafted, invalid trailer header could cause Tomcat to treat a single
request as multiple requests leading to the possibility of request smuggling when behind a reverse proxy. Older, EOL versions may also be affected.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 11.0.0-M12 onwards, 10.1.14 onwards, 9.0.81 onwards or 8.5.94 onwards, which fix the issue.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Oct 10, 2023
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Oct 10, 2023
Reviewed Oct 10, 2023
Last updated Aug 8, 2025

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(67th percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Input Validation

The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2023-45648

GHSA ID

GHSA-r6j3-px5g-cq3x

Source code

Credits

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