Description
Jakarta Tomcat before 3.3.1a, when used with JDK 1.3.1 or earlier, allows remote attackers to list directories even with an index.html or other file present, or obtain unprocessed source code for a JSP file, via a URL containing a null character.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.0 | tomcat | 3.3a-4woody.1 | DSA-246 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Apache Tomcat 3.x - Null Byte Directory / File Disclosure EDB-22205 · remote · Jan 26, 2003 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | org.apache.tomcat:tomcat | < 3.3.1a | 3.3.1a | GHSA-qfw2-wvrw-mvw4 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-246 tomcat - information exposure, cross site scripting Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- DSA-246 vendor-advisory
- 6721 vdb-entry
- http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomcat/release/v3.3.1a/
- 20030130 Apache Jakarta Tomcat 3 URL parsing vulnerability mailing-list
- HPSBUX0303-249 vendor-advisory
- tomcat-null-directory-listing(11194) vdb-entry
- N-060 third-party-advisory government-resource
- 7977 third-party-advisory
- 7972 third-party-advisory
- http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-tomcat/release/v3.3.1a/RELEASE-NOTES-3.3.1a.txt