CVE-2025-48988 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apache Tomcat, specifically versions from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, from 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.41, and from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.105. The vulnerability is characterized by an allocation of resources without limits or throttling, which may lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions. Organizations utilizing these versions should be aware of the potential impact, as it can lead to significant availability issues.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, categorized as high severity. This rating is crucial as it indicates a significant risk to organizations that may be using the affected versions of Apache Tomcat. As such, organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate any potential exploitation.
Exploitation of this vulnerability is confirmed, with high exploitability, meaning that attackers can leverage this flaw effectively. Additionally, organizations should be aware that public proof of concepts (PoCs) are available, which may increase the likelihood of attacks.
To address this vulnerability, users are recommended to upgrade to versions 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106, which contain fixes for this issue. Organizations must act swiftly to protect their systems and ensure operational integrity.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48988 allows for resource allocation without limits or throttling in Apache Tomcat. Officially, this vulnerability affects Apache Tomcat versions 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.41, and 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.105. Additional versions, specifically 8.5.0 through 8.5.100, are also impacted but were at end-of-life (EOL) at the time of CVE publication. This indicates that older, unsupported versions may also be at risk.
The CVSS vector for this vulnerability is defined as CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, signifying a network attack vector with low complexity and no privileges required. The availability impact is rated as high, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to significant service interruptions.
The vulnerability has a CWE classification of CWE-770, indicating that the issue is related to resource allocation without limits. This classification helps in understanding the nature of the vulnerability and its potential impacts.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-48988 stems from the lack of resource limits in Apache Tomcat. This flaw allows attackers to potentially exhaust server resources, resulting in service availability issues. The attack vector is network-based, enabling remote exploitation without the need for physical access to the server.
The attack complexity is assessed as low, meaning that attackers with minimal skills can exploit this vulnerability. There are no privileges required to perform the attack, which further amplifies the risk. Additionally, no user interaction is necessary to exploit this vulnerability, allowing it to be executed unobtrusively.
As a result of this vulnerability, the impact on availability is rated as high, indicating a significant risk of service disruption. There are no confidentiality or integrity impacts associated with this vulnerability, which means that sensitive data exposure or unauthorized data modification is not a direct consequence.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2025-48988 is substantial. Organizations using affected versions of Apache Tomcat may face significant disruptions to their services, leading to potential revenue loss and damage to reputation. The potential blast radius includes any applications and services relying on the affected Tomcat instances, putting a broad range of operations at risk.
Given the high CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency for remediation is heightened due to the availability impact and the confirmed existence of exploits, which could lead to immediate service outages if not addressed. This vulnerability represents a critical threat that organizations cannot afford to overlook.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Apache Tomcat versions affected by CVE-2025-48988 include: from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, from 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.41, and from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.105. Additionally, versions 8.5.0 through 8.5.100 were end-of-life at the time of the CVE's creation but are known to be vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-48988, users should upgrade to Apache Tomcat versions 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106. If immediate upgrading is not feasible, organizations should implement strict resource allocation policies and monitor system performance to identify potential abuse.
Additionally, organizations may consider employing network controls and conducting regular security assessments. For comprehensive assessments and validation of security measures, organizations should utilize penetration testing to ensure all vulnerabilities are addressed effectively.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unusual resource utilization. Additionally, detecting behavioral anomalies that signify resource exhaustion attempts can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. Implementing network signatures that trigger alerts on suspicious activities can also enhance detection capabilities.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-48988 highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring resource management within applications. This vulnerability is a reminder of the importance of implementing robust resource allocation strategies to prevent potential denial of service scenarios. Organizations should recognize patterns of vulnerabilities such as this and reinforce their security postures accordingly.
Security teams should learn from vulnerabilities similar to CVE-2025-48988 and continuously evaluate their configurations. Regular audits and assessments can help identify weaknesses that could be exploited in the future. For further insights, organizations may refer to the following resources: vulnerability management best practices and penetration testing methodologies that can aid in reinforcing security frameworks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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