The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-24734 is classified as a high-severity issue affecting Apache Tomcat and Tomcat Native. This vulnerability allows improper input validation when using an OCSP responder, which could potentially allow certificate revocation to be bypassed. Organizations utilizing these technologies should take this risk seriously, as it could lead to unauthorized access and compromise the integrity of their systems.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high level of severity. The potential risk to organizations includes the ability for attackers to exploit the vulnerability to bypass certificate validation checks, leading to possible man-in-the-middle attacks or other malicious activities. Given the nature of this issue, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
The vulnerability was published on February 17, 2026, and affects multiple versions of Apache Tomcat Native and Apache Tomcat. As such, organizations must assess their environments to determine if they are using affected versions and take necessary action.
At this time, no public exploit has been confirmed. However, given the potential impact, security teams should remain vigilant and monitor for any signs of exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2026-24734 describes an improper input validation vulnerability in Apache Tomcat Native and Apache Tomcat. When using an OCSP responder, the systems failed to complete necessary verification or freshness checks on the OCSP response. This flaw affects multiple versions of Apache Tomcat Native, specifically from 1.3.0 through 1.3.4 and from 2.0.0 through 2.0.11.
Similarly, Apache Tomcat versions from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.17, from 10.1.0-M7 through 10.1.51, and from 9.0.83 through 9.0.114 are also impacted. Users of Apache Tomcat Native are advised to upgrade to versions 1.3.5 or later or 2.0.12 or later, while Apache Tomcat users should upgrade to versions 11.0.18 or later, 10.1.52 or later, or 9.0.115 or later.
The issue has been classified under CWE-20, which pertains to improper input validation. Organizations must ensure they are using supported versions of these technologies to mitigate the risk presented by this vulnerability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2026-24734 lies in the failure of Apache Tomcat Native to perform adequate verification or freshness checks on OCSP responses when an OCSP responder is used. This oversight creates a vulnerability that can be exploited to bypass certificate revocation checks.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is categorized as NETWORK, indicating that an attacker could exploit this issue remotely without needing physical access to the affected system. The attack complexity is low, meaning that an attacker could easily exploit this vulnerability without sophisticated methods.
No privileges are required for exploitation, and there is no user interaction necessary. The impact on confidentiality is rated as none, while the integrity impact is assessed as high. This indicates that the attacker could alter data or behavior without being detected.
Availability impact is rated as none, meaning that the vulnerability does not directly affect the availability of the service. Organizations should be aware of the potential for data integrity issues and take steps to secure their environments against this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2026-24734 is substantial, especially for organizations that rely on Apache Tomcat for their web applications. The ability to bypass certificate revocation checks poses a significant threat, as it could allow attackers to impersonate trusted entities and intercept sensitive data.
Organizations must consider the blast radius of this vulnerability, as it affects multiple versions of Apache Tomcat and Apache Tomcat Native. This widespread impact increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 7.5 indicates that it should be addressed promptly, as failure to do so could result in significant security breaches.
Given that this vulnerability has been assessed as having a high exploitability score, it is vital for security teams to prioritize their patching strategies. Regular monitoring and assessment should be conducted to ensure that no signs of exploitation occur within their environments.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Apache Tomcat Native versions from 1.3.0 through 1.3.4 and from 2.0.0 through 2.0.11 are affected. Apache Tomcat versions from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.17, 10.1.0-M7 through 10.1.51, and 9.0.83 through 9.0.114 are also affected. Organizations using any of these versions should apply recommended patches.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must upgrade to Apache Tomcat Native versions 1.3.5 or later or 2.0.12 or later, and to Apache Tomcat versions 11.0.18 or later, 10.1.52 or later, or 9.0.115 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate upgrading is not feasible, organizations should implement workarounds to restrict access to affected systems and monitor for suspicious activity.
For further details, refer to the Apache mailing list discussion regarding this issue.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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