CVE-2024-34750 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apache Tomcat due to improper handling of exceptional conditions. Specifically, when processing an HTTP/2 stream, Tomcat fails to manage excessive HTTP headers correctly. This mismanagement results in a miscounting of active HTTP/2 streams, leading to an incorrect infinite timeout and allowing connections to remain open when they should be closed. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a significant risk to organizations using affected versions.
Risk to organizations includes potential denial of service due to resource exhaustion. Attackers may exploit this vulnerability to consume server resources, making the application unavailable to legitimate users. The urgency for defenders is high, as organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate these threats.
This vulnerability affects Apache Tomcat versions 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M20, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.24, and 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.89. It is also known to impact end-of-life versions 8.5.0 through 8.5.100. Users are advised to upgrade to versions 11.0.0-M21, 10.1.25, or 9.0.90, which address the issue.
Given the potential impact of this vulnerability, organizations are encouraged to monitor their systems closely and apply the necessary patches as part of their immediate remediation efforts.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2024-34750 vulnerability is classified as an improper handling of exceptional conditions vulnerability. This classification indicates that the system fails to manage specific error conditions appropriately, leading to uncontrolled resource consumption. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.5, which categorizes it as high severity. It affects Apache Tomcat products, specifically versions mentioned previously, and was published on July 3, 2024.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in Apache Tomcat's handling of excessive HTTP headers during HTTP/2 stream processing. The attack vector is classified as NETWORK, allowing attackers to exploit this vulnerability remotely. The attack complexity is low, meaning that it does not require sophisticated techniques to exploit. Privileges required for the attack are none, and there is no user interaction necessary. The availability impact is high, as the vulnerability can lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using vulnerable versions of Apache Tomcat face significant risks, including denial of service attacks that could disrupt operations. The potential blast radius is considerable, affecting any application relying on the vulnerable Tomcat versions. As the vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, it should be addressed in the priority patch cycle. Organizations are encouraged to assess their exposure and implement mitigations as necessary.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include Apache Tomcat from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M20, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.24, and 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.89. Additionally, end-of-life versions 8.5.0 through 8.5.100 are known to be affected. Organizations should upgrade to versions 11.0.0-M21, 10.1.25, or 9.0.90 to resolve this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-34750, organizations should immediately upgrade affected versions of Apache Tomcat to 11.0.0-M21, 10.1.25, or 9.0.90. If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, implement configuration hardening techniques and monitor network traffic for unusual patterns to identify potential exploitation attempts. For comprehensive security assurance, organizations should consider engaging in penetration testing that simulates real-world attack scenarios and validates security controls.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unusual connection patterns, excessive HTTP/2 streams, and errors related to resource consumption. Behavioral anomalies that deviate from normal traffic patterns may also indicate an attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Implementing network signatures that identify exploit attempts can enhance detection capabilities.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-34750 highlights the necessity for organizations to maintain up-to-date versions of software components, particularly those that handle network traffic. This vulnerability represents a trend towards more sophisticated attacks on web technologies, particularly those that utilize HTTP/2. Security teams should focus on comprehensive vulnerability management programs to identify and remediate such vulnerabilities proactively. For further insights into effective vulnerability management, organizations can refer to vulnerability management program, and consider adopting best practices for security testing, including penetration testing methodology to enhance their security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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