# CVE-2017-12617: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type Apache Tomcat

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2017-12617-apache-tomcat-remote-code-execution-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-05-14. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2017-12617 · Severity: critical · CVSS 3 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-05-14

Apache Tomcat allows remote code execution when HTTP PUT requests are enabled. An attacker can upload a specially crafted JSP file to the server, which can then be executed by requesting the file.

Technologies: [Apache Tomcat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/tomcat), [org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/org-apache-tomcat-tomcat-catalina), [org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/org-apache-tomcat-embed-tomcat-embed-core). Vendors: [Apache](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apache), [Maven](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/maven).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2017-12617 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2017-12617 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 25 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2017-12617?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 3, published 14 May 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=9.0.0.M1,fixed=9.0.1; org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=9.0.0.M1,fixed=9.0.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2017-12617?** Yes. org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina (Maven): upgrade to 9.0.1 or later; org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): upgrade to 9.0.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2017-12617 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2017-12617?** Check whether you run Apache Tomcat, org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina (Maven) or org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina (Maven): upgrade to 9.0.1 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina to 9.0.1 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): upgrade to 9.0.1 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to 9.0.1 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```


## Affected products

- Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.0, 8.5.0 to 8.5.22, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.46, 7.0.0 to 7.0.81

## Identifiers

- CVE-2017-12617
- GHSA-xjgh-84hx-56c5

## Timeline

- 2022-03-25: disclosed: Publication date of the advisory.
- exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild.

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