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Tomcat CVE-2019-0221

MEDIUM
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79)
2019-05-28 security@apache.org
6.1
CVSS 3.0 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Output encoding, context-aware escaping
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 6.1 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 45.6% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

The SSI printenv command in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.93 echoes user provided data without escaping and is, therefore, vulnerable to XSS. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Sanitize all user input, use Content-Security-Policy headers, encode output contextually (HTML, JS, URL). Use frameworks with built-in XSS protection.

Affected Packages

maven org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core fix: 7.0.94, 8.5.40, 9.0.17
maven org.apache.tomcat:tomcat fix: 7.0.94, 8.5.40, 9.0.17
maven org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina fix: 7.0.94, 8.5.40, 9.0.17

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 3 packages in maven

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79), which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The SSI printenv command in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.93 echoes user provided data without escaping and is, therefore, vulnerable to XSS. SSI is disabled by default. The printenv command is intended for debugging and is unlikely to be present in a production website. Affected products include: Apache Tomcat.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 6.1 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

The SSI printenv command in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.93 echoes user provided data without escaping and is, therefore, vulnerable to XSS. SSI is disabled by default. The printenv command is intended for debugging and is unlikely to be present in a production website.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
45.6%
Top 1% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 45.6%
Patch available Yes
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

96
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +46
CVSS: +30
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone11:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone12:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone13:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone14:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone15:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone16:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone17:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone18:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone19:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone20:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone21:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone22:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone23:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone24:*:*:*:*:*:*
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References

Advisories & patches
REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00090.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00054.html REF http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163457/Apache-Tomcat-9.0.0.M1-Cross-Site-Scripting.html REF http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/May/50 REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/108545 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3929 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3931 REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6e6e9eacf7b28fd63d249711e9d3ccd4e0a83f556e324aee37be5a8c%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3bbb800a816d0a51eccc5a228c58736960a9fffafa581a225834d97d%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48c1444845fe15a823e1374674bfc297d5008a5453788099ea14caf0%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6ccee4e849bc77df0840c7f853f6bd09d426f6741247da2b7429d5d9%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/raba0fabaf4d56d4325ab2aca8814f0b30a237ab83d8106b115ee279a%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/05/msg00044.html REF https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/08/msg00015.html REF https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NPHQEL5AQ6LZSZD2Y6TYZ4RC3WI7NXJ3/ REF https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZQTZ5BJ5F4KV6N53SGNKSW3UY5DBIQ46/ REF https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Dec/43 REF https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-43 REF https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190606-0001/ REF https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K13184144?utm_source=f5support&amp%3Butm_medium=RSS REF https://usn.ubuntu.com/4128-1/ REF https://usn.ubuntu.com/4128-2/ REF https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4596 REF https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html REF https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html REF https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html REF https://wwws.nightwatchcybersecurity.com/2019/05/27/xss-in-ssi-printenv-command-apache-tomcat-cve-2019-0221/

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