tomcat: Regression in handling of Transfer-Encoding header allows for HTTP request smuggling
Published Feb 24, 2020
4.8
MEDIUMCVSS 3.1
EPSS 8.87%
Description
The refactoring present in Apache Tomcat 9.0.28 to 9.0.30, 8.5.48 to 8.5.50 and 7.0.98 to 7.0.99 introduced a regression. The result of the regression was that invalid Transfer-Encoding headers were incorrectly processed leading to a possibility of HTTP Request Smuggling if Tomcat was located behind a reverse proxy that incorrectly handled the invalid Transfer-Encoding header in a particular manner. Such a reverse proxy is considered unlikely.
Affected products
-
- Version 7.0.98 to 7.0.99StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version 8.5.48 to 8.5.50StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Apache Tomcat 9.0.28 to 9.0.30StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Tomcat | n/a |
|
Configuration 1
Configuration 3
- n/a
- ≥ 3.0.0 · ≤ 3.1.3
Configuration 4
- 9.0
- 10.0
Configuration 5
- 6.2.1.0
- 9.3.3
- 9.3.5
- 9.3.6
- 10.0.1.4.0
- 1.0.1.2
- 7.3.3
- 4.2.0
- 4.2.1
- ≥ 17.1 · ≤ 17.3
- ≤ 4.0.12
- ≥ 8.0.0 · ≤ 8.0.20
- 6.3.7
- 12.2.0.1
- 18c
- 19c
No data.
Red Hat JBoss Web Server (JWS) 5.3
tomcat
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1521
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 6
jws5-tomcat-0:9.0.30-3.redhat_4.1.el6jws
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1520
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 6
jws5-tomcat-native-0:1.2.23-4.redhat_4.el6jws
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1520
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 7
jws5-tomcat-0:9.0.30-3.redhat_4.1.el7jws
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1520
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 7
jws5-tomcat-native-0:1.2.23-4.redhat_4.el7jws
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1520
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 8
jws5-tomcat-0:9.0.30-3.redhat_4.1.el8jws
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1520
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 8
jws5-tomcat-native-0:1.2.23-4.redhat_4.el8jws
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1520
Red Hat Decision Manager 7
tomcat
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
tomcat5
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
tomcat6
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
tomcat
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
pki-deps:10.6/pki-servlet-engine
Not affected
Red Hat Fuse 7
tomcat
Not affected
Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6
jbossweb
Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6
tomcat
Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss Web Server 3
tomcat
Not affected
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 10 (Newton)
opendaylight
Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 13 (Queens)
opendaylight
Will not fix
Red Hat Process Automation 7
tomcat
Not affected
Red Hat support for Spring Boot
tomcat
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server (JWS) 5.3 | tomcat | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1521 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 6 | jws5-tomcat-0:9.0.30-3.redhat_4.1.el6jws | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1520 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 6 | jws5-tomcat-native-0:1.2.23-4.redhat_4.el6jws | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1520 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 7 | jws5-tomcat-0:9.0.30-3.redhat_4.1.el7jws | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1520 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 7 | jws5-tomcat-native-0:1.2.23-4.redhat_4.el7jws | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1520 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 8 | jws5-tomcat-0:9.0.30-3.redhat_4.1.el8jws | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1520 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5.3 on RHEL 8 | jws5-tomcat-native-0:1.2.23-4.redhat_4.el8jws | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1520 |
| Red Hat Decision Manager 7 | tomcat | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | tomcat5 | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | tomcat6 | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | tomcat | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | pki-deps:10.6/pki-servlet-engine | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Fuse 7 | tomcat | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6 | jbossweb | Out of support scope | n/a |
| Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6 | tomcat | Out of support scope | n/a |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 3 | tomcat | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 10 (Newton) | opendaylight | Out of support scope | n/a |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 13 (Queens) | opendaylight | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Process Automation 7 | tomcat | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat support for Spring Boot | tomcat | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This flaw did not affect the versions of Tomcat as shipped with Red Enterprise Linux 5, 6, 7 and 8, as they did not include the vulnerable code, which was introduced in a later version of the package. OpenDaylight in Red Hat OpenStack 10 & 13 was in technical preview status, because of this no fixes will be released for it.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (46 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 8.87% (0.08872) | 95.06th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 8.87% (0.08872) | 94.53th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 4, 2026 | 6.06% (0.06063) | 90.57th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 1, 2026 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 85.12th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 4, 2026 | 6.06% (0.06063) | 90.51th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 85.02th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 6.06% (0.06063) | 90.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 84.97th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 4, 2025 | 6.16% (0.06163) | 90.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 84.89th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 6.16% (0.06163) | 90.42th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 3.32% (0.03323) | 86.04th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 6.16% (0.06163) | 90.40th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 84.84th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 6.16% (0.06163) | 90.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 84.82th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 4, 2025 | 6.16% (0.06163) | 90.48th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 1, 2025 | 2.49% (0.02493) | 84.82th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 30, 2025 | 6.16% (0.06163) | 90.46th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 4, 2025 | 8.14% (0.08139) | 91.80th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 1, 2025 | 3.35% (0.03348) | 86.93th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 4, 2025 | 8.14% (0.08139) | 91.75th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 3.35% (0.03348) | 86.84th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 19, 2025 | 11.37% (0.11369) | 93.21th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 4, 2025 | 9.93% (0.09925) | 92.60th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 1, 2025 | 6.50% (0.06503) | 90.64th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 4, 2025 | 9.93% (0.09925) | 92.57th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 1, 2025 | 6.50% (0.06503) | 90.62th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 9.93% (0.09925) | 92.28th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 16.37% (0.16371) | 91.48th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 9.93% (0.09925) | 92.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.34% (0.00341) | 72.33th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 8, 2024 | 0.34% (0.00341) | 70.68th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jan 31, 2024 | 0.34% (0.00341) | 68.62th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jan 15, 2024 | 0.30% (0.00299) | 66.23th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 29, 2023 | 0.20% (0.00199) | 57.80th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Nov 8, 2023 | 0.18% (0.00183) | 55.43th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.15% (0.00150) | 49.27th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 4.54% (0.04544) | 88.82th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 3, 2022 | 4.54% (0.04544) | 88.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 3.03% (0.03032) | 81.96th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 24.93% (0.24927) | 95.37th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 25.52% (0.25522) | 95.59th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 25.52% (0.25522) | 95.53th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 7.09% (0.07095) | 91.31th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 7.09% (0.07095) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (21)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-03/msg00025.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-17569 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1806849 Issue Tracking
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-767j-jfh2-jvrc Advisory
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7bc994c965a34876bd94d5ff15b4e1e30b6220a15eb9b47c81915b78%40%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7bc994c965a34876bd94d5ff15b4e1e30b6220a15eb9b47c81915b78@%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r88def002c5c78534674ca67472e035099fbe088813d50062094a1390%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListVendor Advisory
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc31cbabb46cdc58bbdd8519a8f64b6236b2635a3922bbeba0f0e3743%40%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc31cbabb46cdc58bbdd8519a8f64b6236b2635a3922bbeba0f0e3743@%3Ccommits.tomee.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/03/msg00006.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-17569
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200327-0005/ x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
- https://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html#Fixed_in_Apache_Tomcat_7.0.100
- https://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html#Fixed_in_Apache_Tomcat_8.5.51
- https://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html#Fixed_in_Apache_Tomcat_9.0.31
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17569
- https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4673 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4680 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.