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Findings

CVE-2016-5388

Apache Tomcat 7.x through 7.0.70 and 8.x through 8.5.4, when the CGI Servlet is enabled, follows RFC 3875 section 4.1.18 and therefore does not protect applications fr…

Published Jul 19, 2016 · corrected/updated Oct 15, 2026 · redhat enterprise linux desktop · evidence confidence high

Apache Tomcat 7.x through 7.0.70 and 8.x through 8.5.4, when the CGI Servlet is enabled, follows RFC 3875 section 4.1.18 and therefore does not protect applications from the presence of untrusted client data in the HTTP_PROXY environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to redirect an application's outbound HTTP traffic to an arbitrary proxy server via a crafted Proxy header in an HTTP request, aka an "httpoxy" issue. NOTE: the vendor states "A mitigation is planned for future releases of Tomcat, tracked as CVE-2016-5388"; in other words, this is not a CVE ID for a vulnerability.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2016-5388 is a high public vulnerability record for redhat enterprise linux desktop. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether redhat enterprise linux desktop is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: apache/tomcat; hp/system management homepage; oracle/linux (6); redhat/enterprise linux desktop (6.0). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 8.1, EPSS 50.9%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Weakness classes: CWE-284. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV.

  • Patch and remediation

    No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Jul 19, 2016 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    Apache Tomcat 7.x through 7.0.70 and 8.x through 8.5.4, when the CGI Servlet is enabled, follows RFC 3875 section 4.1.18 and therefore does not protect applications from the presence of untrusted client data in the HTTP_PROXY environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to redirect an application's outbound HTTP traffic to an arbitrary proxy server via a crafted Proxy header in an HTTP

  2. Oct 15, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    Apache Tomcat 7.x through 7.0.70 and 8.x through 8.5.4, when the CGI Servlet is enabled, follows RFC 3875 section 4.1.18 and therefore does not protect applications from the presence of untrusted client data in the HTTP_PROXY environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to redirect an application's outbound HTTP traffic to an arbitrary proxy server via a crafted Proxy header in an HTTP

Affected

  • cpe apache/tomcatversion unspecified
  • cpe hp/system management homepageversion unspecified
  • cpe oracle/linux6
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop6.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop7.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux hpc node7.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux hpc node eus7.2
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux server7.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux server aus7.2
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux server eus7.2
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux server tus7.2
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux workstation7.0

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2016-5388

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2016-5388

    30-day exploitation probability 50.9%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2016-5388

    Apache Tomcat 7.x through 7.0.70 and 8.x through 8.5.4, when the CGI Servlet is enabled, follows RFC 3875 section 4.1.18 and therefore does not protect applications from the presence of untrusted client data in the HTTP_PROXY environment variable, which might allow remote attacke

    nvd.nist.gov

References