# CVE-2018-1304: Apache Tomcat unauthorized access vulnerability > Attackers can bypass security constraints to access protected web application resources when the URL pattern is an empty string. - **Severity:** Medium 5.9 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 28 Feb 2018 - **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026 - **Also known as:** GHSA-6rxj-58jh-436r, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-1304 ## What is CVE-2018-1304? CVE-2018-1304 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 28 Feb 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. ### Official description The URL pattern of "" (the empty string) which exactly maps to the context root was not correctly handled in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.4, 8.5.0 to 8.5.27, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.49 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.84 when used as part of a security constraint definition. This caused the constraint to be ignored. It was, therefore, possible for unauthorised users to gain access to web application resources that should have been protected. Only security constraints with a URL pattern of the empty string were affected. ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-1304? 8 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core. It affects 10 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 7.0.0 | 7.0.86 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 7.0.0 | 7.0.86 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.0.0 | 8.0.51 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.0.0 | 8.0.51 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.5.0 | 8.5.28 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.5.0 | 8.5.28 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 9.0.0 | 9.0.5 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 9.0.0 | 9.0.5 | Products: Apache Tomcat, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle Hospitality Guest Access, Oracle Micros Relate Crm Software, Oracle Secure Global Desktop, Redhat Jboss Enterprise Application Platform, Redhat Jboss Enterprise Web Server, Redhat Jboss Middleware. ## How do I fix CVE-2018-1304? Upgrade org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a fixed version for your release line: 7.0.86, 8.0.51, 8.5.28 or 9.0.5. ## Is CVE-2018-1304 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-1304 in the wild and no public exploit code. Public exploit code: - https://github.com/knqyf263/CVE-2018-1304 (github_poc): https://github.com/knqyf263/CVE-2018-1304 - https://github.com/thariyarox/tomcat_CVE-2018-1304_testing (github_poc): https://github.com/thariyarox/tomcat_CVE-2018-1304_testing ## 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-2018-1304 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2018-1304 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 28 Feb 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-1304 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.0.86 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.0.86 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.0.0; fixed in 8.0.51 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.0.0; fixed in 8.0.51 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.5.0; fixed in 8.5.28 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.5.0; fixed in 8.5.28 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 9.0.0; fixed in 9.0.5 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 9.0.0; fixed in 9.0.5 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-2018-1304/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1304/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-1304 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1304 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-1304 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1304/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.