CVE-2023-45648 Scanner

Apache Tomcat is a widely-used open-source web server and servlet container, developed by the Apache Software Foundation. It is commonly used to serve Java applications and provides a "pure Java" HTTP web server environment for Java code to run. Organizations often deploy Apache Tomcat for hosting web applications and implementing server-side extended functionalities. The software is integral to web development operations, offering scalable and efficient ways of managing dynamic web content. Many enterprises rely on it for its robust, scalable deployment capabilities, making it popular in various sectors. The open-source nature allows developers to contribute to a community-driven project, enhancing its features and functionality.

HTTP Request Smuggling is a serious web application vulnerability that arises due to the improper parsing of HTTP headers. It allows an attacker to craft HTTP headers in such a way that the server processes them incorrectly, leading to undesired behaviors. The attacker injects one or more HTTP requests into the HTTP headers, causing the server to misinterpret the requests as separate or combined ones. This can result in a variety of malicious outcomes such as cache poisoning, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to sensitive resources. Detecting this vulnerability involves analyzing how the server processes HTTP headers and various request combinations.

The vulnerability in Apache Tomcat versions 8.5.0 to 11.0.0-M11 is a result of improper input validation caused by incorrect parsing of HTTP trailer headers. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted HTTP requests with malicious trailer headers. When the server encounters these malformed headers, it might process the requests out of order or in an unintended sequence. This misprocessing can lead to mixture or misrouting of HTTP requests, causing server-side logic issues. Identifying this vulnerability involves testing for improper HTTP header handling by Apache Tomcat, observing how it reacts to trailer headers.

Exploitation of the HTTP Request Smuggling vulnerability in Apache Tomcat can have several severe impacts. Attackers might execute arbitrary actions or access unauthorized information by exploiting this flaw. It can lead to cache poisoning, allowing attackers to insert incorrect or malicious data into caches, thus serving poisoned content to unsuspecting users. Session hijacking is another potential impact, where attackers can take over user sessions, gaining unauthorized access to personal or sensitive data. The security measures meant to protect sensitive parts of a web application can be bypassed, potentially leading to privilege escalation. These impacts highlight the necessity for prompt detection and remediation.

REFERENCES

• https://lists.apache.org/thread/2pv8yz1pyp088tsxfb7ogltk9msk0jdp
• https://hackerone.com/reports/2299692
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45648