# CVE-2018-11759: Path traversal in Apache Tomcat Connectors

> Attackers can bypass access controls and expose unintended application functionality via the reverse proxy due to improper path normalization in mod_jk.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-11759, DLA-1609-1, DSA-4357-1, GHSA-5q2c-33mg-8m75, SUSE-SU-2018:3963-2, SUSE-SU-2018:3969-1, SUSE-SU-2023:4513-1

## What is CVE-2018-11759?

CVE-2018-11759 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 31 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Apache Web Server (httpd) specific code that normalised the requested path before matching it to the URI-worker map in Apache Tomcat JK (mod_jk) Connector 1.2.0 to 1.2.44 did not handle some edge cases correctly. If only a sub-set of the URLs supported by Tomcat were exposed via httpd, then it was possible for a specially constructed request to expose application functionality through the reverse proxy that was not intended for clients accessing the application via the reverse proxy. It was also possible in some configurations for a specially constructed request to bypass the access controls configured in httpd. While there is some overlap between this issue and CVE-2018-1323, they are not identical.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-11759?

It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 | All versions | 1.2.43-3.3.1 |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP4 | All versions | 1.2.49-150100.6.6.1 |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP5 | All versions | 1.2.49-150100.6.6.1 |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | All versions | 1.2.40-7.3.1 |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | All versions | 1.2.40-7.3.1 |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | All versions | 1.2.49-150100.6.6.1 |
| `apache2-mod_jk` | openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | All versions | 1.2.49-150100.6.6.1 |

Products: Apache Tomcat Jk Connector, Debian Debian Linux, Redhat Jboss Core Services.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-11759?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-11759 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-11759 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Proof of concept showing how to exploit the CVE-2018-11759 (github_poc): https://github.com/immunIT/CVE-2018-11759
- This exploit for CVE 2018-11759, vulnerability in apache mod_jk, module for load-balancer (github_poc): https://github.com/Jul10l1r4/Identificador-CVE-2018-11759
- https://github.com/julioliraup/Identificador-CVE-2018-11759 (github_poc): https://github.com/julioliraup/Identificador-CVE-2018-11759
- Apache Tomcat JK Connect <=1.2.44 - Manager Access (nuclei): http/cves/2018/CVE-2018-11759.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2016-6808](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6808/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-1323](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1323/): Path traversal in Apache Tomcat Connectors (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-11759 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-11759 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 31 Oct 2018. 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-2018-11759 exists.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2018-11759/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11759/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-11759
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11759
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-11759

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11759/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.