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Vulnerability record · CVE-2016-1240 · published 3 October 2016

CVE-2016-1240: Apache tomcat improper input validation vulnerability

Apache · Tomcat

The Tomcat init script in the tomcat7 package before 7.0.56-3+deb8u4 and tomcat8 package before 8.0.14-1+deb8u3 on Debian jessie and the tomcat6 and libtomcat6-java packages before 6.0.35-1ubuntu3.8 on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, the tomcat7 and libtomcat7-java packages before 7.0.52-1ubuntu0.7 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and tomcat8 and libtomcat8-java packages before 8.0.32-1ubuntu1.2 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS allows local users with access to the tomcat account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the Catalina log file, as demonstrated by /var/log/tomcat7/catalina.out.

7.8 CVSS 3.0 High EPSS 9.8% · top 4.6% CWE-20 · Improper input validation
7.8CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 7.2
9.8%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
28References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

The Tomcat init script in the tomcat7 package before 7.0.56-3+deb8u4 and tomcat8 package before 8.0.14-1+deb8u3 on Debian jessie and the tomcat6 and libtomcat6-java packages before 6.0.35-1ubuntu3.8 on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, the tomcat7 and libtomcat7-java packages before 7.0.52-1ubuntu0.7 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and tomcat8 and libtomcat8-java packages before 8.0.32-1ubuntu1.2 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS allows local users with access to the tomcat account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the Catalina log file, as demonstrated by /var/log/tomcat7/catalina.out.

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://legalhackers.com/advisories/Tomcat-DebPkgs-Root-Privilege-Escalation-Exploit-CVE-2016-1240.html
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170857/Apache-Tomcat-On-Ubuntu-Log-Init-Privilege-Escalation.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0457.html
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3669 Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3670 Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539519/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93263
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036845 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3081-1 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0455
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0456
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201705-09
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180731-0002/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40450/
http://legalhackers.com/advisories/Tomcat-DebPkgs-Root-Privilege-Escalation-Exploit-CVE-2016-1240.html
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170857/Apache-Tomcat-On-Ubuntu-Log-Init-Privilege-Escalation.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0457.html
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3669 Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3670 Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539519/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93263
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036845 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3081-1 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0455
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0456
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201705-09
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180731-0002/
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40450/

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Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2016-1240), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.