7.8

CVE-2016-1240: apache tomcat Improper Input Validation

Modified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2016-1240USN-3081-1USN-3081-2
Published 03-10-2016Last modified 05-08-2024

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2016-1240 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in apache tomcat. EPSS estimates a 9.78% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 95.5% of scored vulnerabilities. 2 public exploits are recorded.

Priority
Prioritiseweaponized exploit

Weaponized exploit (exploit-database, 03-10-2016)

Source freshness unavailable

How is this decided?
CVSS score
7.8/10
010
High · v3.0 (NVD)
EPSS score
9.78%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.
RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.
Public exploits2exploit-database, metasploit

Advisory lineage

Upstream 0 · Downstream 2
RHSA-2017:0455RHSA-2017:0456

Timeline

  1. 03-10-2016
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 05-08-2024
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

The Tomcat init script in the tomcat7 package before 7.0.56-3+deb8u4 and tomcat8 package before 8.0.14-1+deb8u3 on Debian jessie and the tomcat6 and libtomcat6-java packages before 6.0.35-1ubuntu3.8 on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, the tomcat7 and libtomcat7-java packages before 7.0.52-1ubuntu0.7 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and tomcat8 and libtomcat8-java packages before 8.0.32-1ubuntu1.2 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS allows local users with access to the tomcat account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the Catalina log file, as demonstrated by /var/log/tomcat7/catalina.out.

CVSS metrics

3 scores · 2 sources · 2 versions

EPSS trend

Probability

9.78%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

96%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

No change 0.00 pp

From 9.78% on 04-10-2026

04-10-202603-11-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

2 found
  • exploit-databaselocallinuxVerified

    Apache Tomcat 8/7/6 (Debian-Based Distros) - Local Privilege Escalation

    Maturity: weaponized

  • MetasploitMetasploitremoteUnverified

    Apache Tomcat on Ubuntu Log Init Privilege Escalation

    exploit/linux/local/tomcat_ubuntu_log_init_priv_esc

    Maturity: poc

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Version check

Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.

Debian3 products
  • tomcat6< 6.0.45+dfsg-1~deb7u2
  • tomcat7< 7.0.56-3+deb8u4 | < 7.0.28-4+deb7u6
  • tomcat8< 8.0.14-1+deb8u3
Ubuntu3 products
  • tomcat6< 6.0.39-1ubuntu0.1 | < 6.0.45+dfsg-1ubuntu0.2
  • tomcat7< 7.0.68-1ubuntu0.3 | < 7.0.52-1ubuntu0.7
  • tomcat8< 8.0.32-1ubuntu1.2
Apache1 product

3 vendors · 7 products

References

19 links
Show all 19 references