Unauthenticated constraint bypass via HTTP/0.9 HEAD
Published Feb 17, 2026 · Updated Feb 17, 2026
Improper input validation in Apache Tomcat allows remote attackers to bypass URI security constraints with an HTTP/0.9 HEAD request. Http11Processor.prepareRequestProtocol accepts non-GET methods for HTTP/0.9, so an invalid HEAD request is handled as a GET after authorization evaluates the permitted HEAD method. Exploitation requires a URI whose constraint allows HEAD but denies GET, and it exposes only content reachable through that mismatched rule.
Summary
What happened
Improper input validation in Apache Tomcat allows remote attackers to bypass URI security constraints with an HTTP/0.9 HEAD request. Http11Processor.prepareRequestProtocol accepts non-GET methods for HTTP/0.9, so an invalid HEAD request is handled as a GET after authorization evaluates the permitted HEAD method. Exploitation requires a URI whose constraint allows HEAD but denies GET, and it exposes only content reachable through that mismatched rule.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-24733
- Published
- Feb 17, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 17, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache Tomcat
- Classifications
- CWE-20, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 17, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=8.5.100
- Affected versionversion=10.1.0-M1 <=10.1.49
- Affected versionversion=11.0.0-M1 <=11.0.14
- Affected versionversion=9.0.0.M1 <=9.0.112
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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