# CVE-2011-5034: Apache Geronimo Hash Collisions Cause DoS

> Remote attackers can cause denial of service via CPU exhaustion by sending crafted form parameters to Apache Geronimo.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 30 Dec 2011
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v3h8-rw48-h4gr

## What is CVE-2011-5034?

CVE-2011-5034 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in n/a, published on 30 Dec 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Apache Geronimo 2.2.1 and earlier computes hash values for form parameters without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) by sending many crafted parameters.  NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2011-4461.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-5034?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.geronimo:geronimo. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.geronimo:geronimo` | Maven | All versions | 2.2.1 |
| `org.apache.geronimo:geronimo` | Maven | All versions | 2.2.1 |

Products: Apache Geronimo.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-5034?

Upgrade org.apache.geronimo:geronimo to 2.2.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2011-5034 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-5034 exists.

Public exploit code:

- MyBulletinBoard (MyBB) 1.1.5 - 'CLIENT-IP' SQL Injection (exploitdb)
- Hashtable Collisions (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2013-1777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1777/): Apache Geronimo JMX Remoting functionality allows remote code execution in 3.x before v3.0.1 (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2007-4548](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-4548/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-5518](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5518/): Apache Geronimo Application Server multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2007-5797](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-5797/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2009-0039](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0039/): Apache Geronimo Application Server CSRF vulnerabilities (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-5034 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-5034 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in n/a, published on 30 Dec 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-5034 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.geronimo:geronimo (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.2.1
- org.apache.geronimo:geronimo (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.2.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-5034/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-5034/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-5034
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-5034
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-5034

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-5034/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.