CVE-2023-41081Network attack vector

Authentication bypass via implicit first-worker mapping

Published Sep 13, 2023 · Updated Sep 25, 2024

Authentication bypass in mod_jk in Apache Tomcat Connectors 1.2.0 through 1.2.48 allows remote attackers to access protected workers. For an unmapped request, mod_jk implicitly selects the first configured worker instead of requiring an explicit URI-to-worker mapping. Exposure requires ForwardDirectories and incomplete explicit mounts; the request can reveal the status worker or bypass httpd constraints.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.59%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in mod_jk in Apache Tomcat Connectors 1.2.0 through 1.2.48 allows remote attackers to access protected workers. For an unmapped request, mod_jk implicitly selects the first configured worker instead of requiring an explicit URI-to-worker mapping. Exposure requires ForwardDirectories and incomplete explicit mounts; the request can reveal the status worker or bypass httpd constraints.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-41081
Published
Sep 13, 2023
Updated
Sep 25, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Tomcat Connectors
Classifications
T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 25, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.2.0 <=1.2.48

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Tomcat Connectorsversion=1.2.0 <=1.2.48

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.5CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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