# CVE-2014-0050: Commons FileUpload Denial of service vulnerability

> Remote attackers can cause denial of service via infinite loop in Apache Commons FileUpload using crafted Content-Type headers.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Mar 2014
- **Updated:** 7 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-0050, DSA-2856-1, GHSA-xx68-jfcg-xmmf, MGASA-2014-0109, MGASA-2014-0110, RHSA-2014:0253

## What is CVE-2014-0050?

CVE-2014-0050 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 28 Mar 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

MultipartStream.java in Apache Commons FileUpload before 1.3.1, as used in Apache Tomcat, JBoss Web, and other products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and CPU consumption) via a crafted Content-Type header that bypasses a loop's intended exit conditions.

Weakness: CWE-264, CWE-835 (Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-0050?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.tomcat:tomcat and commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload. It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.tomcat:tomcat` | Maven | From 7.0.0 | 7.0.52 |
| `org.apache.tomcat:tomcat` | Maven | From 7.0.0 | 7.0.52 |
| `org.apache.tomcat:tomcat` | Maven | From 8.0.0-RC1 | 8.0.3 |
| `org.apache.tomcat:tomcat` | Maven | From 8.0.0-RC1 | 8.0.3 |
| `commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload` | Maven | All versions | 1.3.1 |
| `commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload` | Maven | All versions | 1.3.1 |
| `jbossweb` | Red Hat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:6::el5 | All versions | 0:7.3.0-2.Final_redhat_2.1.ep6.el5 |
| `jbossweb` | Red Hat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:6::el6 | All versions | 0:7.3.0-2.Final_redhat_2.1.ep6.el6 |

Products: Apache Commons Fileupload, Apache Tomcat, Oracle Retail Applications.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-0050?

Upgrade org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to a fixed version for your release line: 7.0.52 or 8.0.3.

## Is CVE-2014-0050 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2014-0050 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2014-0050 Vulnerable site sample (github_poc): https://github.com/jrrdev/cve-2014-0050
- Apache Commons FileUpload and Apache Tomcat DoS (metasploit)
- Apache Commons FileUpload and Apache Tomcat - Denial of Service (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Tomcat

- [CVE-2016-1000031](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1000031/): Improper Access Control in commons-fileupload (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-48976](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48976/): Apache Commons FileUpload, Apache Commons FileUpload: FileUpload DoS via part headers (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-24998](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24998/): Apache Commons FileUpload, Apache Tomcat: FileUpload DoS with excessive parts (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2016-3092](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3092/): High severity vulnerability that affects commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2013-0248](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0248/): Incorrect Default Permissions in Apache Commons FileUpload (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-0050 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-0050 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 28 Mar 2014. 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-2014-0050 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.0.52
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.0.52
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven): affected from 8.0.0-RC1; fixed in 8.0.3
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (Maven): affected from 8.0.0-RC1; fixed in 8.0.3
- commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3.1
- commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3.1

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-2014-0050/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0050/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-0050
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0050
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-0050

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0050/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.