Description

CVE-2024-52316 is an Unchecked Error Condition vulnerability found in Apache Tomcat versions 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M26, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.30, and 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.95. This vulnerability arises when Tomcat uses a custom Jakarta Authentication (formerly JASPIC) ServerAuthContext component that throws an exception during authentication without explicitly setting an HTTP status to indicate failure. This allows unauthorized users to bypass the authentication process and access sensitive data or resources.

While the CVSS score is 9.8, indicating a high severity, the SVRS score is 40, suggesting a moderate level of urgency. This discrepancy is due to the SVRS's unique approach, factoring in threat actor activity, exploit availability, and other intelligence beyond just the technical vulnerability.

Key Insights

• Uncommon Exploitation: This vulnerability requires a specific configuration with custom Jakarta Authentication components that exhibit this behavior. While theoretically possible, it's unlikely that widely deployed Tomcat installations are vulnerable without intentional modification.
• Limited Impact: The vulnerability allows bypassing authentication, but it doesn't directly provide attackers with any specific privileges or access to sensitive data. The impact depends on the resources protected by the bypassed authentication.
• Potential for Future Abuse: The vulnerability highlights a potential risk that malicious actors could exploit if they create custom Jakarta Authentication components with deliberate error handling to bypass authentication.

Mitigation Strategies

• Upgrade Tomcat: The most effective mitigation is to upgrade to Tomcat versions 11.0.0, 10.1.31 or 9.0.96 or later, which address the vulnerability.
• Review Custom Jakarta Authentication Components: Organizations using custom Jakarta Authentication components should review their implementations to ensure proper error handling and HTTP status code setting during the authentication process.
• Security Monitoring and Auditing: Implementing robust security monitoring and auditing practices can help detect and respond to potential unauthorized access attempts, even if the vulnerability is not actively exploited.

Additional Information

While there are no known reports of active exploitation in the wild, and no specific threat actors or APT groups are known to be exploiting this vulnerability, it is important to stay informed about the latest developments. SOCRadar's SVRS score indicates a moderate level of urgency, and it is advisable to take proactive steps to mitigate the vulnerability.

If users have additional queries regarding this incident, they can use the 'Ask to Analyst' feature, contact SOCRadar directly, or open a support ticket for more information if necessary.