The Tomcat package on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7, Fedora, CentOS, Oracle Linux…
Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-276Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Tomcat package on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7, Fedora, CentOS, Oracle Linux, and possibly other Linux distributions uses weak permissions for /usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/tomcat.conf, which allows local users to gain root privileges by leveraging membership in the tomcat group.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.03782 90th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 3 exploit referencesTagged by NVD and the CNA
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 23
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack:17.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.1 | Running on | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack:17.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.2 | Running on | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack:17.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.3 | Running on | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7 | Running on | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.3 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.4 | Running on | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack:17.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.1 Running on ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack:17.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.2 Running on ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:instantis_enterprisetrack:17.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.3 Running on ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7 Running on ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Running on ·Red Hat
Show 13 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.7 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.3 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.4 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.5 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.7 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.3 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.7 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.7 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.5 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.7 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.7 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Running on ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2016:2046 Released 2016-10-10 · Red Hat rating Importanttomcat security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-servlet-3.0-api-7.0.54-8.el7_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-admin-webapps-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-docs-webapp-7.0.54-8.el7_2 +6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-servlet-3.0-api-7.0.54-8.el7_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-admin-webapps-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-docs-webapp-7.0.54-8.el7_2 +6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-admin-webapps-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-el-2.2-api-7.0.54-8.el7_2 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-admin-webapps-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-docs-webapp-7.0.54-8.el7_2 +6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) tomcat-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-admin-webapps-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-el-2.2-api-7.0.54-8.el7_2 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) tomcat-docs-webapp-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-javadoc-7.0.54-8.el7_2, tomcat-jsvc-7.0.54-8.el7_2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:2046 |
Not affected: 12 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat JBoss Data Grid 6
- Red Hat JBoss Data Virtualization 6
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 2
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 3
- Red Hat JBoss Fuse Service Works 6
- Red Hat JBoss Operations Network 3
- Red Hat JBoss Portal 6
- Red Hat Software Collections
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-5425
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c7fc-mp9g-99j3
- 2026-11-06 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile
References
Exploit 3
Advisory 4
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.html
- [oss-security] 20161010 CVE-2016-5425 - Apache Tomcat packaging on RedHat-based distros - Root Privilege Escalation (affecting CentOS, Fedora, OracleLinux, RedHat etc.)
- RHSA-2016:2046
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html
More Apache Tomcat vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-18529 Apache Tomcat: Potential RCE and/or information disclosure and/or information corruption with partial PUT KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2020-01862 Improper privilege management in Apache Tomcat KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-07192 Improper access control in Apache Tomcat KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2017-09342 Unrestricted file upload in Apache Tomcat KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2017-09340 Unrestricted file upload in Apache Tomcat KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2026-26741 Apache Tomcat: Fix for CVE-2026-29146 allowed bypass of EncryptInterceptor KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2016-5425 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-5425 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-c7fc-mp9g-99j3 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-5425 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences