CVE-2018-1336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2018-1336, a Denial of Service vulnerability in Apache Tomcat versions 7.0.28 to 9.0.7. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.
A Denial of Service vulnerability in Apache Tomcat versions 7.0.28 to 9.0.7 due to mishandling of overflow with supplementary characters.
Understanding CVE-2018-1336
This CVE involves a vulnerability in Apache Tomcat that can lead to a Denial of Service attack.
What is CVE-2018-1336?
An improper handling of overflow in the UTF-8 decoder with supplementary characters can result in an infinite loop, causing a Denial of Service. Affected versions include Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M9 to 9.0.7, 8.5.0 to 8.5.30, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.51, and 7.0.28 to 7.0.86.
The Impact of CVE-2018-1336
- Severity: Medium
- Vulnerability: Denial of Service
- Affected Versions: Apache Tomcat 7.0.28 to 9.0.7
Technical Details of CVE-2018-1336
A detailed look at the technical aspects of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the mishandling of overflow with supplementary characters in the UTF-8 decoder, leading to an endless loop.
Affected Systems and Versions
The following versions of Apache Tomcat are affected:
- Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M9 to 9.0.7
- Apache Tomcat 8.5.0 to 8.5.30
- Apache Tomcat 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.51
- Apache Tomcat 7.0.28 to 7.0.86
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the affected Apache Tomcat server, triggering the infinite loop and causing a Denial of Service.
Mitigation and Prevention
Best practices to mitigate the CVE-2018-1336 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the latest security patches provided by Apache Software Foundation.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity targeting the Apache Tomcat server.
- Implement network-level controls to filter out potentially malicious requests.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Apache Tomcat to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address any weaknesses in the server configuration.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches released by Apache Software Foundation to address the CVE-2018-1336 vulnerability.