# What is CVE-2017-12615?

> CVE-2017-12615 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.1) in Tomcat from Apache, published on 19 September 2017. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at over 99%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2017-12615

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 81 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 8.1 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** over 99% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 19 September 2017
- **Record last updated:** 20 April 2025
- **Main product:** Tomcat from Apache
- **Affected products:** 23

## What is CVE-2017-12615? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

When running Apache Tomcat 7.0.0 to 7.0.79 on Windows with HTTP PUTs enabled (e.g. via setting the readonly initialisation parameter of the Default to false) it was possible to upload a JSP file to the server via a specially crafted request. This JSP could then be requested and any code it contained would be executed by the server.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2017-12615 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at over 99%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%.

### Timeline

- 19 September 2017: Published
- 20 April 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2017-12615 scores **81 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2017-12615?

The published record lists 23 products.

- [Tomcat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/apache/tomcat) by [Apache](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/apache) (Application): 7.0.0 to 7.0.79
- [Enterprise Linux Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7
- [Enterprise Linux Eus Compute Node](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_eus_compute_node) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7
- [Enterprise Linux for Ibm Z Systems Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4_s390x, 7.5_s390x, 7.6_s390x, 7.7_s390x
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Big Endian Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_big_endian_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4_ppc64, 7.5_ppc64, 7.6_ppc64, 7.7_ppc64
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Little Endian Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4_ppc64le, 7.5_ppc64le, 7.6_ppc64le, 7.7_ppc64le
- [Enterprise Linux Server for Power Little Endian Update Services for Sap Solutions](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4_ppc64le, 7.6_ppc64le, 7.7_ppc64le, 9.2_ppc64le
- [Enterprise Linux Server Aus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4, 7.6, 7.7
- [Enterprise Linux Server Tus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_tus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.4, 7.6, 7.7
- [Enterprise Linux Server Update Services for Sap Solutions](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 7.4, 7.6, 7.7
- [Enterprise Linux Desktop](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_desktop) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 6.0, 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 6.0, 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Workstation](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_workstation) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 6.0, 7.0
- [Jboss Enterprise Web Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/jboss_enterprise_web_server) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 2.0.0, 3.0.0
- [7-Mode Transition Tool](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/7-mode_transition_tool) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Enterprise Linux for Ibm Z Systems](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0_s390x
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Big Endian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_big_endian) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0_ppc64
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Little Endian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0_ppc64le
- [Enterprise Linux for Scientific Computing](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_scientific_computing) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0
- [Jboss Enterprise Web Server Text-Only Advisories](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/jboss_enterprise_web_server_text-only_advisories) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): version not specified
- [Oncommand Balance](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/oncommand_balance) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Oncommand Shift](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/oncommand_shift) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Windows](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12615?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/388a323769f1dff84c9ec905455aa73fbcb20338e3c7eb131457f708%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/3d19773b4cf0377db62d1e9328bf9160bf1819f04f988315086931d7%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/845312a10aabbe2c499fca94003881d2c79fc993d85f34c1f5c77424%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [breaktoprotect.blogspot.com](http://breaktoprotect.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-case-of-cve-2017-12615-tomcat-7-put.html) (Exploit)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100901) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039392) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3080) (Third-party advisory)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3081) (Third-party advisory)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3113) (Third-party advisory)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3114) (Third-party advisory)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0465) (Third-party advisory)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0466) (Third-party advisory)
- [github.com](https://github.com/breaktoprotect/CVE-2017-12615) (Exploit, Third-party advisory)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8fcb1e2d5895413abcf266f011b9918ae03e0b7daceb118ffbf23f8c%40%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Issue tracking, Mailing list)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20171018-0001/) (Third-party advisory)
- [exploit-db.com](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42953/) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [synology.com](https://www.synology.com/support/security/Synology_SA_17_54_Tomcat) (Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2017-12615?

CVE-2017-12615 is a high-severity flaw in Tomcat from Apache, published on 19 September 2017. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2017-12615?

It scores 8.1 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2017-12615 is 81 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2017-12615 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at over 99%.

### Which versions does CVE-2017-12615 affect?

For Tomcat from Apache: 7.0.0 to 7.0.79. The record lists 23 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2017-12615?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2017-12615 affect you?

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- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
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