# CVE-2024-38286: Apache Tomcat resource exhaustion in TLS handshake

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-38286-apache-tomcat-resource-exhaustion-in-tls-handshake  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2024-11-07. Updated: 2026-07-01  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2024-38286 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.6 · Published 2024-11-07

Apache Tomcat, a widely used web server and servlet container, is vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack. An attacker can exploit the secure connection (TLS) handshake process to exhaust the server's memory. This can lead to a complete service crash, preventing legitimate users from accessing hosted applications and potentially disrupting business operations.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2024-38286 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2024-38286 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2024-38286?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.6, published 7 November 2024.

**Which products and versions are affected?** org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=11.0.0-M1,fixed=11.0.0-M21; org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=11.0.0-M1,fixed=11.0.0-M21.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2024-38286?** Yes. org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote (Maven): upgrade to 11.0.0-M21 or later; org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): upgrade to 11.0.0-M21 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2024-38286 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2024-38286?** Check whether you run org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote (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-coyote (Maven): upgrade to 11.0.0-M21 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-coyote to 11.0.0-M21 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (Maven): upgrade to 11.0.0-M21 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to 11.0.0-M21 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```


## Technical details

This vulnerability is classified as an 'Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling' (CWE-770) issue within Apache Tomcat's TLS handshake implementation. Under specific configurations, a remote, unauthenticated attacker can initiate a TLS handshake that causes the server to allocate excessive memory, eventually triggering an OutOfMemoryError (OOM). The attack is carried out over the network and does not require user interaction. The issue has been addressed in versions 11.0.0-M21, 10.1.25, and 9.0.90; older versions like 8.5.x and 7.0.x are also affected but have reached end-of-life.

## Affected products

- Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.0-M20, 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.24, 9.0.13 through 9.0.89, 8.5.35 through 8.5.100, 7.0.92 through 7.0.109

## Identifiers

- CVE-2024-38286
- GHSA-7jqf-v358-p8g7

## Timeline

- 2024-11-07: advisory: GitHub Advisory published
- 2024-11-07: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr](https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr)
- [https://github.com/hara-satoshi-ymr](https://github.com/hara-satoshi-ymr)
- [https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr/repos](https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/219617739?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/219617739?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/hara-satoshi-ymr/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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