CVE-2025-24813
Published: 10 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-24813 is a critical-severity Internal Dot (CWE-44) vulnerability in Apache Tomcat. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 CM-6 (Configuration Settings) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
Apache Tomcat's Default Servlet is vulnerable to a path equivalence flaw involving internal dots in filenames, which affects versions 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.2, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.34, 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.98, and several end-of-life releases including 8.5.0 through 8.5.100. The issue arises when the servlet permits writes and supports partial PUT requests, allowing crafted paths to bypass intended restrictions on file handling.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the flaw when the application uses file-based session persistence in the default location together with a deserializable library, achieving remote code execution. Under a narrower set of conditions involving subdirectories for public versus sensitive uploads and attacker knowledge of target filenames, the same vector can also be used to read security-sensitive files or inject malicious content into them via partial PUT operations.
Apache Tomcat project advisories and downstream distributors such as Debian and NetApp direct users to upgrade immediately to 11.0.3, 10.1.35, or 9.0.99. These releases contain the fix; no workarounds are specified beyond disabling writes on the Default Servlet or restricting partial PUT support where feasible.
The CVE carries a CVSS score of 9.8 and an EPSS value that has reached 0.94, indicating a high likelihood of exploitation in the wild.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-6498
Vulnerability details
Path Equivalence: 'file.Name' (Internal Dot) leading to Remote Code Execution and/or Information disclosure and/or malicious content added to uploaded files via write enabled Default Servlet in Apache Tomcat. This issue affects Apache Tomcat: from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.2, from 10.1.0-M1 through…
more
10.1.34, from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.98. The following versions were EOL at the time the CVE was created but are known to be affected: 8.5.0 though 8.5.100. Other, older, EOL versions may also be affected. If all of the following were true, a malicious user was able to view security sensitive files and/or inject content into those files: - writes enabled for the default servlet (disabled by default) - support for partial PUT (enabled by default) - a target URL for security sensitive uploads that was a sub-directory of a target URL for public uploads - attacker knowledge of the names of security sensitive files being uploaded - the security sensitive files also being uploaded via partial PUT If all of the following were true, a malicious user was able to perform remote code execution: - writes enabled for the default servlet (disabled by default) - support for partial PUT (enabled by default) - application was using Tomcat's file based session persistence with the default storage location - application included a library that may be leveraged in a deserialization attack Users are recommended to upgrade to version 11.0.3, 10.1.35 or 9.0.99, which fixes the issue.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 01 April 2025
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The path equivalence vulnerability in Apache Tomcat's public-facing Default Servlet directly enables exploitation of the application for initial access (T1190), facilitates information disclosure by allowing access to sensitive local files (T1005), and supports malicious file uploads/injections via partial PUT (T1105).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Requires timely patching of known flaws like CVE-2025-24813 by upgrading to fixed Apache Tomcat versions, directly eliminating the path equivalence vulnerability.
Enforces secure configuration settings for the Tomcat Default Servlet, such as disabling writes and managing partial PUT support, to block exploitation preconditions.
Mandates validation of uploaded file names to reject path equivalence attempts using internal dots, mitigating the core manipulation vector.