CVE-2017-6056 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A denial of service vulnerability in Apache Tomcat servlet and JSP engine due to mishandling of HTTPS requests.

Understanding CVE-2017-6056

A flaw in Apache Tomcat could lead to a denial of service attack through an infinite loop.

What is CVE-2017-6056?

The vulnerability arises from how Apache Tomcat processes HTTPS requests, potentially resulting in a denial of service attack.
This issue is a consequence of backporting a fix for CVE-2016-6816 without including the fix for Tomcat bug 57544.
Affected systems include Debian distributions older than versions 7.0.56-3+deb8u8 and 8.0.14-1+deb8u7 in jessie, as well as Ubuntu.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6056

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to a denial of service attack, impacting the availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6056

A closer look at the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Apache Tomcat servlet and JSP engine allows for a denial of service attack through an infinite loop triggered by HTTPS requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Debian distributions older than versions 7.0.56-3+deb8u8 and 8.0.14-1+deb8u7 in jessie are vulnerable.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS requests to the affected Apache Tomcat server, causing it to enter an infinite loop and resulting in a denial of service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

Measures to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-6056 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by the respective vendors to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an ongoing attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.
Implement network security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems to enhance overall security.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Apache Tomcat, Debian, Ubuntu, and other relevant vendors to apply patches promptly.