# CVE-2019-0232: Apache Tomcat OS Command Injection vulnerability > Remote code execution in Apache Tomcat CGI Servlet on Windows when command line arguments are enabled, requiring specific configuration. - **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 15 Apr 2019 - **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** GHSA-8vmx-qmch-mpqg ## What is CVE-2019-0232? CVE-2019-0232 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 15 Apr 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. ### Official description When running on Windows with enableCmdLineArguments enabled, the CGI Servlet in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.93 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution due to a bug in the way the JRE passes command line arguments to Windows. The CGI Servlet is disabled by default. The CGI option enableCmdLineArguments is disable by default in Tomcat 9.0.x (and will be disabled by default in all versions in response to this vulnerability). For a detailed explanation of the JRE behaviour, see Markus Wulftange's blog (https://codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2016/02/java-and-command-line-injections-in-windows.html) and this archived MSDN blog (https://web.archive.org/web/20161228144344/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/twistylittlepassagesallalike/2011/04/23/everyone-quotes-command-line-arguments-the-wrong-way/). Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-0232? 6 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core. It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 7.0.0 | 7.0.94 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 7.0.0 | 7.0.94 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.0.0 | 8.5.40 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.0.0 | 8.5.40 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 9.0.0.M1 | 9.0.17 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 9.0.0.M1 | 9.0.17 | Products: Apache Tomcat. ## How do I fix CVE-2019-0232? Upgrade org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a fixed version for your release line: 7.0.94, 8.5.40 or 9.0.17. ## Is CVE-2019-0232 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-0232 exists. Public exploit code: - Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution on Windows (github_poc): https://github.com/pyn3rd/CVE-2019-0232 - Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution on Windows - CGI-BIN (github_poc): https://github.com/jas502n/CVE-2019-0232 - Vulnerability analysis and PoC for the Apache Tomcat - CGIServlet enableCmdLineArguments Remote Code Execution (RCE) (github_poc): https://github.com/jaiguptanick/CVE-2019-0232 - CVE-2019-0232-Remote Code Execution on Apache Tomcat 7.0.42 (github_poc): https://github.com/setrus/CVE-2019-0232 - https://github.com/cyy95/CVE-2019-0232-EXP (github_poc): https://github.com/cyy95/CVE-2019-0232-EXP - Hi this is a revised and enhanced code for CVE-2019-0232 (github_poc): https://github.com/Dharan10/CVE-2019-0232 ## 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-2019-0232 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2019-0232 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 15 Apr 2019. 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-2019-0232 exists. Affected packages and fixed versions: - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.0.94 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.0.94 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.0.0; fixed in 8.5.40 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.0.0; fixed in 8.5.40 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 9.0.0.M1; fixed in 9.0.17 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 9.0.0.M1; fixed in 9.0.17 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-2019-0232/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0232/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-0232 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0232 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-0232 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0232/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.