There’s a New Vulnerability – And It’s Actively Being Exploited
A critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in Apache Tomcat is under active exploitation, putting organisations at risk of full server compromise, data breaches, ransomware, and service disruptions. Identified as CVE-2025-24813, this flaw allows attackers to execute malicious code remotely without authentication, making it a high-priority threat for IT security teams.
If your organisation relies on Apache Tomcat, immediate action is required to mitigate this risk. In this article, MTI’s cybersecurity experts outline the vulnerability details, its impact, and the critical steps you need to take to secure your infrastructure.
What is CVE-2025-24813?
CVE-2025-24813 is a vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Apache Tomcat, which could allow attackers to remotely execute malicious code on affected servers. This is due to a flaw in the handling of certain HTTP requests, which can be exploited without requiring authentication.
Why is This Important?
- Actively Exploited: This vulnerability is already being used in real-world attacks.
- High Impact: Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or ransomware deployment.
- Widespread Risk: Apache Tomcat is widely used in enterprise environments, making this a major concern for businesses of all sizes.
Affected Versions:
- Tomcat 9.0 (up to 9.0.98)
- Tomcat 10.1 (up to 10.1.34)
- Tomcat 11.0 (up to 11.0.2)
If your systems use any of these versions, they are potentially vulnerable and require immediate action.
How Attackers Exploit CVE-2025-24813
- Attackers send a specially crafted HTTP PUT request to upload a malicious file.
- The uploaded file executes when accessed, giving attackers full control of the server.
- The attack requires no authentication, making it an easy target for cybercriminals.
- Malicious payloads can be disguised to evade traditional security filters.
How to Protect Your Organisation
- Apply Security Patches – The Apache Software Foundation has released patched versions:
- Upgrade to Tomcat 9.0.99, 10.1.35, or 11.0.3 as soon as possible.
- Restrict Access – If immediate patching is not possible, limit access to Tomcat management interfaces and disable unnecessary HTTP methods such as PUT and DELETE.
- Review and Monitor – Check for unusual activity on affected systems, particularly unauthorised file uploads or unexpected HTTP requests. Implement monitoring tools to detect exploit attempts.
- Conduct our Complimentary Security Assessment – To help organisations identify if they are vulnerable, we are offering a complimentary external vulnerability scan. This quick, non-intrusive check will identify if your public-facing infrastructure is at risk. The scan includes:
- A targeted check for CVE-2025-24813 on your external IP addresses.
- A risk summary listing any vulnerable hosts.
- Guidance on remediation steps.
Next Steps – Book In Your Complimentary Security Scan
Given the severity and active exploitation of this vulnerability, we strongly advise all affected organisations to act immediately. To schedule your complimentary vulnerability scan, simply get in touch with our team at UKSalesOperationsTeam@mti.com.
This is not a full penetration test but a focused security check for CVE-2025-24813. If a vulnerability is detected, we will provide a single-page summary highlighting affected hosts and recommended actions.