CVE-2024-24549 is a high-severity Denial of Service vulnerability affecting Apache Tomcat. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit improper input validation for HTTP/2 requests, potentially leading to service outages. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating significant risk to affected systems. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Apache Tomcat should prioritize patching to mitigate this risk.
The vulnerability arises when processing an HTTP/2 request that exceeds configured limits for headers. If these limits are breached, the associated HTTP/2 stream is not reset until after all headers have been processed, which can cause resources to be exhausted. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Apache Tomcat, including 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M16, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.18, 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.85, and 8.5.0 through 8.5.98.
Organizations are urged to upgrade to version 11.0.0-M17, 10.1.19, 9.0.86, or 8.5.99 to resolve this issue. Failure to address this vulnerability may lead to significant downtime and operational challenges.
Given the potential for exploitation and the impact on availability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20, which pertains to improper input validation. It has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level, with the potential for significant availability impact due to the Denial of Service condition. The affected versions include Apache Tomcat from 8.5.0 to 8.5.98, 9.0.0 to 9.0.85, 10.1.0 to 10.1.18, and 11.0.0-M1 to 11.0.0-M16. The vulnerability was published on March 13, 2024.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the input validation mechanism for HTTP/2 requests. Specifically, when the request exceeds the header limits, the system does not reset the affected HTTP/2 stream until all headers have been processed. This oversight can lead to resource exhaustion, rendering the service unavailable.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, allowing remote attackers to exploit it without needing physical or local access. The attack complexity is low, and no user interaction is required for exploitation. The vulnerability has a high impact on availability, but it does not affect confidentiality or integrity.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service outages and disruptions due to the Denial of Service condition created by this vulnerability. The blast radius is significant, as it affects multiple versions of Apache Tomcat across different environments, including cloud and on-premises deployments.
Given the high CVSS score and the availability impact, organizations must assess their exposure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Apache Tomcat include all versions from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M16, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.18, 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.85, and 8.5.0 through 8.5.98. Organizations using these versions should upgrade to the latest patched versions to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To address this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to the following patched versions: 11.0.0-M17, 10.1.19, 9.0.86, or 8.5.99. If immediate upgrading is not possible, organizations should consider implementing network controls to limit access to affected services, as well as monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. For comprehensive security, organizations may also engage in continuous penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual HTTP/2 requests, specifically those with excessive header sizes. Behavioral anomalies in application performance or unexpected crashes may also indicate exploitation attempts. Implementing monitoring solutions to capture and analyze these anomalies can aid in early detection.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-24549 lies in the ongoing challenges organizations face with input validation across various protocols, including HTTP/2. This vulnerability exemplifies the necessity for robust validation mechanisms to prevent service disruptions. Security teams are encouraged to establish comprehensive security assessments, focusing on input validation as a key defense layer.
In conclusion, organizations should remain vigilant against similar vulnerabilities by implementing strict validation policies and engaging in regular security assessments. Leveraging resources such as the penetration testing methodology can aid in identifying weaknesses before they are exploited.
Additionally, organizations can learn from the patterns observed in this vulnerability's disclosure and the response strategies employed, ensuring they are better prepared for future threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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