# CVE-2019-12418: Insufficiently Protected Credentials in Apache Tomcat > A local attacker can capture JMX credentials via RMI manipulation in Tomcat, leading to credential theft and full instance control. - **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 23 Dec 2019 - **Updated:** 8 Oct 2026 - **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2019-12418, DLA-2155-1, GHSA-hh3j-x4mc-g48r, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-12418 ## What is CVE-2019-12418? CVE-2019-12418 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 23 Dec 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description When Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.28, 8.5.0 to 8.5.47, 7.0.0 and 7.0.97 is configured with the JMX Remote Lifecycle Listener, a local attacker without access to the Tomcat process or configuration files is able to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack to capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and gain complete control over the Tomcat instance. ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-12418? 6 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core. It affects 6 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | All versions | 7.0.99 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | All versions | 7.0.99 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.0.0 | 8.5.49 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 8.0.0 | 8.5.49 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 9.0.0 | 9.0.29 | | `org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core` | Maven | From 9.0.0 | 9.0.29 | Products: Apache Tomcat, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Netapp Oncommand System Manager, Opensuse Leap, Oracle Workload Manager. ## How do I fix CVE-2019-12418? Upgrade org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to a fixed version for your release line: 7.0.99, 8.5.49 or 9.0.29. ## Is CVE-2019-12418 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-12418 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-2019-12418 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2019-12418 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 23 Dec 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-12418 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 7.0.99 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 7.0.99 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.0.0; fixed in 8.5.49 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 8.0.0; fixed in 8.5.49 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 9.0.0; fixed in 9.0.29 - org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): affected from 9.0.0; fixed in 9.0.29 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-2019-12418/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12418/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-12418 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-12418 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-12418 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12418/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.