CVE-2025-49124 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Apache Tomcat installer for Windows. The vulnerability arises from the use of icacls.exe without specifying a full path during installation. This issue impacts several versions of Apache Tomcat, specifically from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, from 10.1.0 through 10.1.41, and from 9.0.23 through 9.0.105.
The versions 8.5.0 through 8.5.100 and 7.0.95 through 7.0.109 are also known to be affected, despite being end-of-life (EOL) at the time of the CVE creation. Organizations utilizing these affected versions should prioritize upgrading to version 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106 to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
As of now, there are no known exploits available for this vulnerability. However, the potential for exploitation remains high, which underscores the importance of immediate action.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to safeguard their systems against potential threats associated with CVE-2025-49124.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows for an untrusted search path during the installation of Apache Tomcat on Windows. The CVSS score of 8.4 indicates a high severity level, highlighting the critical nature of this vulnerability. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-426 classification, which signifies issues related to 'Universal Naming Convention (UNC) Path Traversal.'
Affected versions include Apache Tomcat from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, from 10.1.0 through 10.1.41, and from 9.0.23 through 9.0.105. The EOL versions include 8.5.0 through 8.5.100 and 7.0.95 through 7.0.109.
The publication date for this CVE was June 16, 2025.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-49124 is the insecure handling of the icacls.exe application during the installation process, which can potentially lead to unauthorized access. The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning an attacker must have local access to the system to exploit it.
The attack complexity is rated as low, with no privileges required and no user interaction necessary for exploitation. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated high, indicating that successful exploitation could result in significant harm.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive data and system configurations due to the untrusted search path vulnerability. The blast radius can be significant, especially for organizations that rely on Apache Tomcat for critical applications. Given the high CVSS score, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
With no known exploits currently available, there is an opportunity for organizations to mitigate risk by upgrading affected systems as soon as possible. The urgency of addressing this vulnerability is high, given its potential impact.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Apache Tomcat include 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, 10.1.0 through 10.1.41, and 9.0.23 through 9.0.105. The older EOL versions impacted are 8.5.0 through 8.5.100 and 7.0.95 through 7.0.109. Organizations should upgrade to the latest versions: 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-49124, users should upgrade their installations of Apache Tomcat immediately to versions 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106. If immediate upgrading is not possible, consider implementing configuration hardening, restricting access to the Tomcat installation directories, and monitoring for unusual activity.
For further guidance on enhancing your security posture, organizations can explore penetration testing services that can help detect and remediate vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for any unauthorized access attempts or irregularities during installation can provide early detection of potential exploitation. Look for unusual entries related to icacls.exe and any attempts to modify access controls in the Tomcat installation directories.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-49124 lies in its illustration of the risks associated with improper handling of system utilities during installation processes. This vulnerability represents a broader pattern of vulnerabilities that can arise from insufficient path validation.
Security teams should take this incident as a lesson to rigorously evaluate installation procedures and ensure that all system paths are correctly defined. Organizations can enhance their defenses by implementing penetration testing methodology to identify similar weaknesses.
Furthermore, adopting a proactive approach by engaging in regular vulnerability management programs can assist organizations in maintaining a robust security posture against evolving threats.
In conclusion, organizations should prioritize addressing CVE-2025-49124 and remain vigilant against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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