CVE-2010-2227 — TOMCAT
CVE-2010-2227 is a Buffer Overflow vulnerability in apache tomcat. 2 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. No vendor fix is recorded yet; mitigation options are listed below.
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…
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.
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 Products
tomcatapacheResearch 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
Vendor / applianceDetect
Inventory every apache tomcat deployment and check each version against the affected-products list above. Because the exploit targets the running system rather than your application code, also watch for remote code execution at the network and runtime layer — O3 flags the exploit behaviour from runtime telemetry and egress traffic even before a vulnerable build is confirmed.
Remediation status
No patch has shipped for CVE-2010-2227 yet — track the apache tomcat advisory for a fixed release and apply the workarounds below in the meantime.
Mitigate without a patch
Cut exposure now: restrict the management/admin interface to trusted networks, segment the device, and apply the vendor's recommended configuration mitigations and any WAF/IPS signature. O3's runtime protection blocks the exploit chain at execution, holding the line on unpatched or end-of-life systems until you can patch.
How O3 protects you
O3 detects and blocks CVE-2010-2227 exploitation at runtime: eBPF exploit-chain detection, plus L7 egress monitoring that catches the post-exploitation callback and severs the attacker's outbound channel.
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 being exploited in your environment?
O3's eBPF runtime sensors and L7 egress monitoring detect and block the CVE-2010-2227 exploit chain at execution — protecting unpatched and end-of-life systems until the vendor patch is applied.