CVE-2010-2227 — tomcat
Fix: apache/tomcat@40e5880CVE-2010-2227 is a Buffer Overflow vulnerability in org.apache.tomcat:tomcat. 2 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.apache.tomcat:tomcat — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Apache Tomcat does not properly handle an invalid Transfer-Encoding header
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat☕org.apache.tomcat:tomcat☕org.apache.tomcat:tomcatReal-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
Apache Tomcat 5.5.0 through 5.5.29, 6.0.0 through 6.0.27, and 7.0.0 beta does not properly handle an invalid Transfer-Encoding header, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application outage) or obtain sensitive information via a crafted header that interferes with "recycling of a buffer."
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | ≥ 7.0.0&&< 7.0.2 | 7.0.2org.apache.tomcat:tomcat:7.0.2 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | ≥ 5.5.0&&< 5.5.30 | 5.5.30org.apache.tomcat:tomcat:5.5.30 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | ≥ 6.0.0&&< 6.0.28 | 6.0.28org.apache.tomcat:tomcat:6.0.28 |
Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
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 7.0.2 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2010-2227 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.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2010-2227 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to CVE-2010-2227. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Fixing This On Your OS
If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.
| Product | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| JBEAP 4.2.0 for RHEL 5 | jbossweb-0:2.0.0-6.CP14.0jpp.ep1.1.el5 | RHSA-2010:0584 |
| JBEWS 1.0 for RHEL 4 | tomcat5-0:5.5.28-9.patch_01.jdk6.ep5.el4 | RHSA-2010:0581 |
| Red Hat Certificate System 7.3 | tomcat5-0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.19 | RHSA-2010:0693 |
| Red Hat Developer Suite V.3 | tomcat5-0:5.5.23-0jpp_21rh | RHSA-2010:0583 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | tomcat5-0:5.5.23-0jpp.9.el5_5 | RHSA-2010:0580 |
| RHAPS Version 2 for RHEL 4 | tomcat5-0:5.5.23-0jpp_4rh.17 | RHSA-2010:0582 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2010-2227 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds CVE-2010-2227 across Maven dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.