CVE-2023-46589 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Apache Tomcat: HTTP request smuggling via malformed trailer headers

Understanding CVE-2023-46589

This CVE involves an Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Apache Tomcat that could lead to HTTP request smuggling via malformed trailer headers.

What is CVE-2023-46589?

Apache Tomcat versions 8.5.0 through 8.5.95, 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.82, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.15, and 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M10 did not correctly parse HTTP trailer headers. This issue could allow a single request to be treated as multiple requests, potentially leading to request smuggling when behind a reverse proxy.

The Impact of CVE-2023-46589

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to manipulate requests, potentially bypass security controls, and conduct various forms of attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-46589

This section provides more insight into the vulnerability related to Apache Tomcat.

Vulnerability Description

Improper input validation in Apache Tomcat can result in the incorrect parsing of HTTP trailer headers, enabling a request smuggling attack vector.

Affected Systems and Versions

Apache Tomcat 8.5.0 through 8.5.95
Apache Tomcat 9.0.0-M1 through 9.0.82
Apache Tomcat 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.15
Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M10

Exploitation Mechanism

A malformed trailer header exceeding the size limit could cause Tomcat to mishandle requests, leading to potential request smuggling vulnerabilities.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2023-46589 is crucial for system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to Apache Tomcat versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability:

Version 11.0.0-M11 onwards
Version 10.1.16 onwards
Version 9.0.83 onwards
Version 8.5.96 onwards

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating Apache Tomcat to the latest secure version is vital to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by Apache Software Foundation to address potential security issues.