CVE-2022-29885 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apache Tomcat versions from 8.5.38 to 8.5.78, 9.0.13 to 9.0.62, and 10.0.0-M1 to 10.0.20, as well as the milestone versions from 10.1.0-M1 to 10.1.0-M14. The vulnerability arises from incorrect documentation regarding the EncryptInterceptor, which mistakenly claims it enables Tomcat clustering over untrusted networks. While the EncryptInterceptor provides confidentiality and integrity protection, it does not mitigate all risks associated with untrusted networks, especially Denial of Service (DoS) risks.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating high severity. This score highlights the significant impact this vulnerability can have on an organization's operations, particularly its availability, which is classified as high. The potential for service disruption due to exploitation necessitates immediate attention from organizations utilizing affected versions of Apache Tomcat.
Currently, known exploits exist for CVE-2022-29885, amplifying the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability. Given its potential impact and the availability of exploit code, organizations must prioritize remediation efforts to safeguard against possible disruptions.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The presence of exploits in the wild increases the likelihood of attacks targeting this vulnerability, making it crucial for security teams to implement necessary patches or mitigations without delay.
Vulnerability Details
The documentation of Apache Tomcat 10.1.0-M1 to 10.1.0-M14, 10.0.0-M1 to 10.0.20, 9.0.13 to 9.0.62, and 8.5.38 to 8.5.78 for the EncryptInterceptor incorrectly stated it enabled Tomcat clustering to run over an untrusted network. This was not correct. While the EncryptInterceptor does provide confidentiality and integrity protection, it does not protect against all risks associated with running over any untrusted network, particularly DoS risks.
The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a high severity level, with a high impact on availability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400, which pertains to the potential for resource exhaustion that could lead to service unavailability.
The vulnerability was published on May 12, 2022, and has been classified as modified since then due to updates in the documentation and understanding of its impact.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the miscommunication regarding the EncryptInterceptor's functionality. It was documented as providing a layer of security that would allow Tomcat clustering to be operational over untrusted networks, which is misleading. The EncryptInterceptor does provide some level of security by ensuring confidentiality and integrity; however, it does not address all potential threats, particularly those related to resource exhaustion, which can lead to a Denial of Service.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is classified as network-based, allowing attackers to exploit it remotely without needing physical access to the targeted system. The complexity of the attack is low, meaning that it does not require advanced skills or significant effort to execute once the vulnerability is identified. No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, and user interaction is not needed, making it easier for attackers to launch an attack.
The impacts of this vulnerability are significant concerning availability, as the potential for a successful attack could lead to system downtime. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are categorized as none, indicating that data exposure or alteration is not a direct consequence of this vulnerability, but rather, the primary concern is the availability of the service.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Apache Tomcat face a considerable risk due to the high-impact nature of CVE-2022-29885. The vulnerability poses a risk to availability, which could lead to significant downtime and service disruption if exploited. This could affect customer trust and result in financial losses, particularly for organizations that rely on uninterrupted service.
Given the high exploitability score and the existence of known exploits, organizations must treat this vulnerability with utmost urgency. The potential for exploitation in the wild emphasizes the need for immediate action. Security teams should assess their systems for exposure to this vulnerability and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly.
The urgency for patching is classified as high, as the availability impact could lead to service outages that are detrimental to organizational operations. The potential blast radius for this vulnerability is significant, as multiple versions of Apache Tomcat are affected across various deployments.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
CVE-2022-29885 affects multiple versions of Apache Tomcat, specifically versions 10.1.0-M1 to 10.1.0-M14, 10.0.0-M1 to 10.0.20, 9.0.13 to 9.0.62, and 8.5.38 to 8.5.78. Organizations running these versions should consider upgrading to the latest patched versions to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The recommended action is to upgrade to the latest version of Apache Tomcat where the vulnerability has been addressed. In addition to upgrading, organizations should review their configuration settings to ensure that they are not exposing themselves to unnecessary risks. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing network controls to restrict access to the Tomcat server and monitor for unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
For further guidance, organizations can explore our penetration testing methodology to validate the effectiveness of their security measures.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should implement logging and monitoring to detect any anomalous behavior that may suggest exploitation attempts. Key indicators to watch for include unusual traffic levels, particularly spikes in requests to the Tomcat server, and any unauthorized access attempts. Regularly review logs for patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-29885 lies in its highlighting of the critical need for accurate documentation and understanding of security features in software. This vulnerability not only exposes technical weaknesses but also emphasizes the importance of clear communication regarding security capabilities to prevent organizations from mistakenly relying on inadequate protections. Security teams should incorporate lessons learned from this incident into their risk management practices.
Organizations should remain vigilant about ongoing vulnerabilities in their systems and maintain a proactive security posture through regular assessments. For further insights into vulnerability management, security teams can refer to our vulnerability management program for effective strategies.
Organizations can also review our penetration testing reports guide for insights on maintaining robust security measures.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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