CVE-2009-0781

CVE-2009-0781 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Tomcat with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-79.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 9% (95th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-79
• Affected product: Apache Tomcat
• Published: 2009-03-09
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in jsp/cal/cal2.jsp in the calendar application in the examples web application in Apache Tomcat 4.1.0 through 4.1.39, 5.5.0 through 5.5.27, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.18 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the time parameter, related to "invalid HTML."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-0781?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in jsp/cal/cal2.jsp in the calendar application in the examples web application in Apache Tomcat 4.1.0 through 4.1.39, 5.5.0 through 5.5.27, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.18 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the time parameter, related to "invalid HTML."

How severe is CVE-2009-0781?

CVE-2009-0781 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-0781 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 9% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-0781?

CVE-2009-0781 primarily affects Apache Tomcat. In total, 85 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-0781?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-0781 published?

CVE-2009-0781 was published on 2009-03-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-07/msg00002.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=127420533226623&w=2
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=129070310906557&w=2
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=133469267822771&w=2
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=136485229118404&w=2
• http://secunia.com/advisories/35685
• http://secunia.com/advisories/35788
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37460
• http://secunia.com/advisories/42368
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-263529-1
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
• http://tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html
• http://tomcat.apache.org/security-5.html
• http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html
• http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2207
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:136
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:138
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501538/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/507985/100/0/threaded
• http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1856
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3316
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3056
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49213
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/06cfb634bc7bf37af7d8f760f118018746ad8efbd519c4b789ac9c2e%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/29dc6c2b625789e70a9c4756b5a327e6547273ff8bde7e0327af48c5%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dcaf7c3894d66cb717646ea1504ea6e300021c85bb4e677dc16b1aa%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/c62b0e3a7bf23342352a5810c640a94b6db69957c5c19db507004d74%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3aacc40356defc3f248aa504b1e48e819dd0471a0a83349080c6bcbf%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E

Affected products (85)

• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.3:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.9:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.28:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:4.1.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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