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CVE-2016-5018: In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.M9, 8.5.0 to 8.5.4, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.36, 7.0.0 to 7.0.70 and 6.0.0 to 6.0.4

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CRITICAL 9.1REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2016-5018 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.1) affecting tomcat, oncommand insight, oncommand shift. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.M9, 8.5.0 to 8.5.4, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.36, 7.0.0 to 7.0.70 and 6.0.0 to 6.0.45 a malicious web application was able to bypass a configured SecurityManager via a Tomcat utility method that was accessible to web applications.

Why this priority

  • Critical severity
  • EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
  • Public exploit reference
  • CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
  • Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
  • On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score9.1 (Critical)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionNone
EPSS exploit chance10.3% (top 4%)
CISA exploited listNo
Published2017-08-10
Last modified2026-10-08
Publisher (CNA): Apache Software Foundation · Vendor: apache · canonical · debian · netapp

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Last updated 2026-10-08 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

apache tomcat UPGRADE
Affected: >= 6.0.0 and <= 6.0.45 · >= 7.0.0 and <= 7.0.70 · >= 8.0 and <= 8.0.36 · >= 8.5.0 and <= 8.5.4 · 9.0.0 milestone1 · 9.0.0 milestone2 · 9.0.0 milestone3 · 9.0.0 milestone4
Fixed in: newer than 8.5.4
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy tomcat || rpm -q tomcat || tomcat --version
2. UPGRADE to newer than 8.5.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade tomcat
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade tomcat
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison tomcat sudo apt install tomcat=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold tomcat
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list tomcat sudo dnf downgrade tomcat-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add tomcat
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
netapp oncommand insight MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy oncommand-insight || rpm -q oncommand-insight || oncommand-insight --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
netapp oncommand shift MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy oncommand-shift || rpm -q oncommand-shift || oncommand-shift --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
netapp snap creator framework MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy snap-creator-framework || rpm -q snap-creator-framework || snap-creator-framework --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE
Affected: 16.04
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.04
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
debian debian linux MITIGATE
Affected: 8.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.
Maven · org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-jasper · FIXED · 9.0.0.M10 · vulnerable: >= 9.0.0.M1, <= 9.0.0.M9 · source
Set org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-jasper to 9.0.0.M10 or later in pom.xml or build.gradle, then rebuild and redeploy.
Maven · org.apache.tomcat:jasper · FIXED · 6.0.47 · vulnerable: >= 6.0.0, <= 6.0.45 · source
Set org.apache.tomcat:jasper to 6.0.47 or later in pom.xml or build.gradle, then rebuild and redeploy.
Maven · org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-jasper · FIXED · 9.0.0.M10 · vulnerable: >= 9.0.0.M1, <= 9.0.0.M9 · source
Set org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-jasper to 9.0.0.M10 or later in pom.xml or build.gradle, then rebuild and redeploy.
Fedora ELN · makedumpfile · FIXED · 1.8.0-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-3bf4582b1f · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-3bf4582b1f
Fedora 46 · python-resend · FIXED · 2.50.1-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-8c29ba68cc · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-8c29ba68cc
RHEL 7 · tomcat · FIXED · tomcat-7.0.76-2.el7
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2017:2247 rpm -q tomcat
RHEL 5 · tomcat5 · DEFERRED
RHEL 6 · tomcat6 · DEFERRED
Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2016-764 · source
sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2016-764

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2016-5018?

tomcat: upgrade to newer than 8.5.4; oncommand insight: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; oncommand shift: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-5018 being exploited?

CVE-2016-5018 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2016-5018 affect?

CVE-2016-5018 affects tomcat, oncommand insight, oncommand shift. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.1). In Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0.M9, 8.5.0 to 8.5.4, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.36, 7.0.0 to 7.0.70 and 6.0.0 to 6.0.45 a malicious web application was able to bypass a configured SecurityManager via a Tomcat utility method that was accessible to w

How urgent is CVE-2016-5018?

Priority 74/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Apache Tomcat vulnerabilities · Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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