How severe is CVE-2009-2901?

No CVSS score has been assigned to CVE-2009-2901 yet. Review the advisory details and affected package list to assess your exposure.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2009-2901?

CVE-2009-2901 affects the following packages: org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven), org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven). Ecosystems affected: Maven.

How do I fix CVE-2009-2901?

Update org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to 5.5.29 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2009-2901 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

How do I detect CVE-2009-2901 in my Maven dependencies?

Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.tomcat:tomcat, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.

How do I mitigate CVE-2009-2901 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?

If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

Is CVE-2009-2901 actively exploited in the wild?

No public exploit code has been indexed for CVE-2009-2901 yet. This does not mean the vulnerability cannot be exploited — absence of public exploits does not imply safety. Apply the recommended fix and use O3 Security to monitor your exposure.

What is the EPSS score for CVE-2009-2901?

CVE-2009-2901 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 8.1%, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CVEs. EPSS is maintained by FIRST.org and estimates the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. This score indicates relatively lower exploitation probability, though the CVSS severity should still guide your patching priority.

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2009-2901?

CVE-2009-2901 is classified as CWE-264 (CWE-264). This weakness type describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation.

When was CVE-2009-2901 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2009-2901 was published on May 2, 2022 and was last updated on February 21, 2024. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting.

CVE-2009-2901: tomcat — Fixed in 5.5.29

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗

8.1%probability of exploitation in next 30 days

Lower Risk0.00%

Lower risk than most CVEs95th percentile — riskier than 95% of all scored CVEsHighest risk

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.

Real-World Exposure

2 pkgs affected

☕org.apache.tomcat:tomcat☕org.apache.tomcat:tomcat

Real-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.

Description

The autodeployment process in Apache Tomcat 5.5.0 through 5.5.28 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.20, when autoDeploy is enabled, deploys appBase files that remain from a failed undeploy, which might allow remote attackers to bypass intended authentication requirements via HTTP requests.

Affected Packages

2 total 2 fixed

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
☕Maven	`org.apache.tomcat:tomcat`	≥ 5.5.0&&< 5.5.29	5.5.29`org.apache.tomcat:tomcat:5.5.29`
☕Maven	`org.apache.tomcat:tomcat`	≥ 6.0.0&&< 6.0.24	6.0.24`org.apache.tomcat:tomcat:6.0.24`

Affected Products

1 product · 51 configurations

Application

tomcatapache

51 versions

5.5.05.5.15.5.25.5.35.5.45.5.55.5.65.5.75.5.85.5.95.5.105.5.11

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency

Detect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.tomcat:tomcat, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to 5.5.29 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2009-2901 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

Frequently Asked Questions

The autodeployment process in Apache Tomcat 5.5.0 through 5.5.28 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.20, when autoDeploy is enabled, deploys appBase files that remain from a failed undeploy, which might allow remote attackers to bypass intended authentication requirements via HTTP requests.

O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

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CVE-2009-2901 — tomcat