CVE-2009-0580

Apache Tomcat <6.0.18 - Info Disclosure

Title source: llm

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2009-0580. PoCs published by D. Matscheko, including Metasploit module auxiliary/scanner/http/tomcat_enum.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This is a writeup describing a username-enumeration weakness in Apache Tomcat. It explains how different responses to login attempts can reveal valid usernames, aiding in brute-force attacks.

Description

Apache Tomcat 4.1.0 through 4.1.39, 5.5.0 through 5.5.27, and 6.0.0 through 6.0.18, when FORM authentication is used, allows remote attackers to enumerate valid usernames via requests to /j_security_check with malformed URL encoding of passwords, related to improper error checking in the (1) MemoryRealm, (2) DataSourceRealm, and (3) JDBCRealm authentication realms, as demonstrated by a % (percent) value for the j_password parameter.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WRITEUP VERIFIED

by D. Matscheko · textremotemultiple

https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/33023

View Code ZIP pw:eip

This is a writeup describing a username-enumeration weakness in Apache Tomcat. It explains how different responses to login attempts can reveal valid usernames, aiding in brute-force attacks.

Classification

Writeup 90%

Attack Type

Info Leak

Complexity

Trivial

Reliability

Reliable

Target: Apache Tomcat 4.1.x (prior to 4.1.40), 5.5.x (prior to 5.5.28), 6.0.x (prior to 6.0.20)

No auth needed

Prerequisites: Access to the Tomcat login page

MITRE ATT&CK

T1589 - Gather Victim Identity Information

devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

metasploit SCANNER

rubypoc

https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/http/tomcat_enum.rb

View Code ZIP pw:eip

This Metasploit module enumerates Apache Tomcat usernames by exploiting a vulnerability in the j_security_check endpoint, which leaks user existence via error responses. It targets older Tomcat versions (4.1.0-4.1.39, 5.5.0-5.5.27, 6.0.0-6.0.18).

Classification

Scanner 100%

Attack Type

Info Leak

Complexity

Trivial

Reliability

Reliable

Target: Apache Tomcat 4.1.0-4.1.39, 5.5.0-5.5.27, 6.0.0-6.0.18

No auth needed

Prerequisites: Access to the Tomcat admin interface (typically /admin/j_security_check) · A list of usernames to test

MITRE ATT&CK

T1592 - Gather Victim Host Information

devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (49)

Core 49

Core References

Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://tomcat.apache.org/security-4.html

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval

https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18915

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva

http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:138

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_fedora

https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-November/msg01246.html

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/504045/100/0/threaded

Patch, Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen

http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1496

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval

https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9101

Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_hp

http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=127420533226623&w=2

Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia

http://secunia.com/advisories/35326

Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian

http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2207

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/35196

Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia

http://secunia.com/advisories/35344

Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_hp

http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=136485229118404&w=2

Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia

http://secunia.com/advisories/37460

Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen

http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3056

Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html

Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia

http://secunia.com/advisories/35788

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/504125/100/0/threaded

Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=747840&view=rev

Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple

http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html

Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_hp

http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=133469267822771&w=2

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/504108/100/0/threaded

Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=781382&view=rev

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval

https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6628

Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen

http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1856

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack

http://securitytracker.com/id?1022332

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva

http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:176

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/507985/100/0/threaded

Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia

http://secunia.com/advisories/42368

Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html

Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_fedora

https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-November/msg01156.html

Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia

http://secunia.com/advisories/35685

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_fedora

https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-November/msg01216.html

Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://tomcat.apache.org/security-5.html

Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-07/msg00002.html

Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_hp

http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=129070310906557&w=2

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf

https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/50930

Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=781379&view=rev

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva

http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:136

Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_sunalert

http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-263529-1

Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen

http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3316