CVE-2025-48988: Apache Tomcat DOS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-48988 Overview

CVE-2025-48988 is an Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerability in Apache Tomcat. This issue affects multiple versions: from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.41, and 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.105. End-of-life (EOL) versions like 8.5.0 through 8.5.100 are also impacted. Users should upgrade to version 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106 to mitigate the issue.

Critical Impact
This vulnerability may lead to Denial of Service, affecting service availability.

Affected Products

Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.7
Apache Tomcat 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.41
Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.105

Discovery Timeline

Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
Not Available - Responsible disclosure to Apache
Not Available - CVE CVE-2025-48988 assigned
Not Available - Apache releases security patch
2025-06-16 - CVE CVE-2025-48988 published to NVD
2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-48988

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from inadequate resource allocation handling, which fails to employ limits or throttling. This allows an attacker to exploit the system resources, leading to potential service disruptions or Denial of Service (DoS).

Root Cause

Inherent flaws in resource management logic within Apache Tomcat's affected versions.

Attack Vector

Network-based exploitation without the requirement for authentication makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered remotely.

java

// Example exploitation code (sanitized)
import java.net.HttpURLConnection;
import java.net.URL;

public class Exploit {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            URL url = new URL("http://victim-server:8080/heavyResource");
            HttpURLConnection conn = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
            conn.setRequestMethod("GET");
            // Repeated requests to exhaust resources
            while (true) {
                conn.connect();
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48988

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual spikes in CPU or memory usage
Increased response times in the application
Log entries indicating repeated access to specific resources

Detection Strategies

Implement network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to flag anomalous traffic patterns targeting Tomcat servers.

Monitoring Recommendations

Leverage SentinelOne’s Singularity XDR to monitor for spikes in resource utilization and anomalous network behavior indicative of potential exploitation attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48988

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade to Apache Tomcat version 11.0.8, 10.1.42, or 9.0.106
Implement rate limiting on exposed endpoints
Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to filter excessive requests

Patch Information

Refer to the vendor advisory for patch details and apply the latest updates promptly.

Workarounds

Consider configuring resource constraints in the server configuration to limit the potential impact of excessive resource allocation.

bash

# Configuration example
<Connector port="8080"
           maxThreads="200"
           acceptCount="100"
           connectionTimeout="20000"
           disableUploadTimeout="true" />