When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat. Tomcat treats AJP connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they can be exploited in ways that may be surprising. In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.30, 8.5.0 to 8.5.50 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.99, Tomcat shipped with an AJP Connector enabled by default that listened on all configured IP addresses. It was expected (and recommended in the security guide) that this Connector would be disabled if not required. This vulnerability report identified a mechanism that allowed: - returning arbitrary files from anywhere in the web application - processing any file in the web application as a JSP Further, if the web application allowed file upload and stored those files within the web application (or the attacker was able to control the content of the web application by some other means) then this, along with the ability to process a file as a JSP, made remote code execution possible. It is important to note that mitigation is only required if an AJP port is accessible to untrusted users. Users wishing to take a defence-in-depth approach and block the vector that permits returning arbitrary files and execution as JSP may upgrade to Apache Tomcat 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later. A number of changes were made to the default AJP Connector configuration in 9.0.31 to harden the default configuration. It is likely that users upgrading to 9.0.31, 8.5.51 or 7.0.100 or later will need to make small changes to their configurations.
Published 2020-02-24 22:15:12
Updated 2025-02-06 22:15:34
View at NVD,   CVE.org
Vulnerability category: Execute code

Products affected by CVE-2020-1938

Threat overview for CVE-2020-1938

Top countries where our scanners detected CVE-2020-1938
Top open port discovered on systems with this issue 80
IPs affected by CVE-2020-1938 304,420
Threat actors abusing to this issue? Yes
Find out if you* are affected by CVE-2020-1938!
*Directly or indirectly through your vendors, service providers and 3rd parties. Powered by attack surface intelligence from SecurityScorecard.

CVE-2020-1938 is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

CISA vulnerability name:
Apache Tomcat Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
CISA required action:
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA description:
Apache Tomcat treats Apache JServ Protocol (AJP) connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they can be exploited.
Notes:
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1938
Added on 2022-03-03 Action due date 2022-03-17

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2020-1938

97.40%
Probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days EPSS Score History
~ 100 %
Percentile, the proportion of vulnerabilities that are scored at or less

Metasploit modules for CVE-2020-1938

  • Apache Tomcat AJP File Read
    Disclosure Date: 2020-02-20
    First seen: 2020-11-30
    auxiliary/admin/http/tomcat_ghostcat
    When using the Apache JServ Protocol (AJP), care must be taken when trusting incoming connections to Apache Tomcat. Tomcat treats AJP connections as having higher trust than, for example, a similar HTTP connection. If such connections are available to an attacker, they

CVSS scores for CVE-2020-1938

Base Score Base Severity CVSS Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Score Source First Seen
7.5
HIGH AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
10.0
6.4
NIST
9.8
CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.9
5.9
134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 2025-02-06
9.8
CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.9
5.9
NIST

References for CVE-2020-1938

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