# CVE-2014-0033: Improper Input Validation in Apache Tomcat

> Remote attackers can hijack user sessions via crafted URLs if URL rewriting is enabled, requiring user interaction to click the link.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Feb 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6gjj-c5mj-4cvp

## What is CVE-2014-0033?

CVE-2014-0033 is a medium-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 26 Feb 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

org/apache/catalina/connector/CoyoteAdapter.java in Apache Tomcat 6.0.33 through 6.0.37 does not consider the disableURLRewriting setting when handling a session ID in a URL, which allows remote attackers to conduct session fixation attacks via a crafted URL.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-0033?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.tomcat:tomcat` | Maven | From 6.0.33 | 6.0.38 |
| `org.apache.tomcat:tomcat` | Maven | From 6.0.33 | 6.0.38 |

Products: Apache Tomcat.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-0033?

Upgrade org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to 6.0.38 or later.

## Is CVE-2014-0033 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-0033 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Tomcat

- [CVE-2025-24813](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24813/): Apache Tomcat Path Equivalence (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-8735](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8735/): Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-12617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12617/): Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-12615](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12615/): Apache Tomcat on Windows Remote Code Execution (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-34486](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-34486/): Apache Tomcat Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-0033 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-0033 is a medium-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 26 Feb 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-0033 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven): affected from 6.0.33; fixed in 6.0.38
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven): affected from 6.0.33; fixed in 6.0.38

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-2014-0033/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0033/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-0033
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0033
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-0033

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0033/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.