CISA Alerts on Active Exploitation of Apache Tomcat Vulnerability

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a high-priority alert regarding the active exploitation of CVE-2025-24813, a critical vulnerability within Apache Tomcat.

This newly identified flaw poses a significant risk to organizations using affected versions of the popular open-source web server.

CVE-2025-24813: Apache Tomcat Path Equivalence Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24813, classified as a “Path Equivalence Vulnerability,” stems from the improper handling of partial PUT requests in Apache Tomcat.

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The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass security restrictions by exploiting equivalences in file paths, potentially leading to code execution, data disclosure, or content manipulation.

Security researchers highlight that the vulnerability is tied to the improper handling of file paths in web applications hosted on Tomcat servers.

The vulnerability is associated with Common Weakness Enumerations (CWEs) CWE-44 (Path Equivalence Concerns) and CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data).

While its active use in ransomware campaigns has not yet been confirmed, CISA urges organizations to remain vigilant against potential misuse.

Immediate Mitigation Action Recommended

CISA recommends that affected organizations take immediate action to mitigate this vulnerability. Specifically, administrators are advised to:

1. Apply Vendor-Mitigated Updates: Review and implement the patch or workarounds provided by Apache Tomcat developers.
2. Follow BOD 22-01 Guidance: For organizations relying on cloud services, follow applicable Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01 to ensure cloud environments are shielded against exploitation.
3. Discontinue Product Use if No Mitigation Exists: If updates or mitigations are unavailable, organizations should consider disabling the use of Apache Tomcat to eliminate risk exposure.

The vulnerability was added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on April 1, 2025, with a deadline for mitigation set for April 22, 2025.

Apache Tomcat is widely used in enterprise environments, hosting critical applications and web services.

The exploitation of CVE-2025-24813 could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, distribute malicious payloads, or disrupt business-critical operations.

Cybersecurity experts stress that organizations should address this vulnerability promptly to avoid downstream consequences.

CISA’s alert underlines the growing need for enhanced vulnerability management within organizations.

As cybercriminals increasingly exploit flaws in commonly used software, proactive measures become imperative to protect sensitive systems.

CISA has not confirmed specific ransomware activities linked to CVE-2025-24813 yet but warns that cybercriminals frequently leverage zero-day vulnerabilities in widely used platforms like Apache Tomcat.

Organizations are encouraged to review vendor documentation, implement robust logging and monitoring processes, and engage in regular security audits to protect against exploitation.

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