CVE-2016-6796
CVE-2016-6796 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Tomcat with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
- CVSS v2: 5.0
- EPSS exploit prediction: 8% (94th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Affected product: Apache Tomcat
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
A malicious web application running on Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.M9, 8.5.0 to 8.5.4, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.36, 7.0.0 to 7.0.70 and 6.0.0 to 6.0.45 was able to bypass a configured SecurityManager via manipulation of the configuration parameters for the JSP Servlet.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2016-6796?
- A malicious web application running on Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.M9, 8.5.0 to 8.5.4, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.36, 7.0.0 to 7.0.70 and 6.0.0 to 6.0.45 was able to bypass a configured SecurityManager via manipulation of the configuration parameters for the JSP Servlet.
- How severe is CVE-2016-6796?
- CVE-2016-6796 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.
- Is CVE-2016-6796 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 8% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2016-6796?
- CVE-2016-6796 primarily affects Apache Tomcat. In total, 31 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2016-6796?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2016-6796 published?
- CVE-2016-6796 was published on 2017-08-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0457.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-1551.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3720
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93944
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037141
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038757
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0455
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0456
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1548
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1549
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1550
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1552
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2247
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/343558d982879bf88ec20dbf707f8c11255f8e219e81d45c4f8d0551%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/37220405a377c0182d2afdbc36461c4783b2930fbeae3a17f1333113%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/388a323769f1dff84c9ec905455aa73fbcb20338e3c7eb131457f708%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/39ae1f0bd5867c15755a6f959b271ade1aea04ccdc3b2e639dcd903b%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/3d19773b4cf0377db62d1e9328bf9160bf1819f04f988315086931d7%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5a2105a56b2495ab70fa568f06925bd861f0d71ffab4fb38bb4fdc45%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6af47120905aa7d8fe12f42e8ff2284fb338ba141d3b77b8c7cb61b3%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/845312a10aabbe2c499fca94003881d2c79fc993d85f34c1f5c77424%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/88855876c33f2f9c532ffb75bfee570ccf0b17ffa77493745af9a17a%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b5e3f51d28cd5d9b1809f56594f2cf63dcd6a90429e16ea9f83bbedc%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b84ad1258a89de5c9c853c7f2d3ad77e5b8b2930be9e132d5cef6b95%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b8a1bf18155b552dcf9a928ba808cbadad84c236d85eab3033662cfb%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r03c597a64de790ba42c167efacfa23300c3d6c9fe589ab87fe02859c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r587e50b86c1a96ee301f751d50294072d142fd6dc08a8987ae9f3a9b%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180605-0001/
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4557-1/
Affected products (31)
- 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:milestone2:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone3:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone4:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone5:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone6:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone7:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone8:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:9.0.0:milestone9:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_insight:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_shift:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:snap_creator_framework:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:tekelec_platform_distribution:7.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:tekelec_platform_distribution:7.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_web_server:3.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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