Apache Tomcat - Digest authenticator will authenticate any unknown user (CVE-2026-43512)

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 9.8. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (maven), org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (maven), org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core (maven), org.apache.tomcat:tomcat (maven) and additional mapped packages. Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-coremaven	>=0 <9.0.118	9.0.118
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-coremaven	>=10.1.0-M1 <10.1.55	10.1.55
org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-coremaven	>=11.0.0-M1 <11.0.22	11.0.22
org.apache.tomcat:tomcatmaven	>=0 <9.0.118	9.0.118
org.apache.tomcat:tomcatmaven	>=10.1.0-M1 <10.1.55	10.1.55
org.apache.tomcat:tomcatmaven	>=11.0.0-M1 <11.0.22	11.0.22
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalinamaven	>=0 <9.0.118	9.0.118
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalinamaven	>=10.1.0-M1 <10.1.55	10.1.55
org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalinamaven	>=11.0.0-M1 <11.0.22	11.0.22

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core, org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core.
Review the reported fix. Update org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to 9.0.118; org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to 10.1.55; org.apache.tomcat.embed:tomcat-embed-core to 11.0.22; org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to 9.0.118; org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to 10.1.55; org.apache.tomcat:tomcat to 11.0.22; org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina to 9.0.118; org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina to 10.1.55; org.apache.tomcat:tomcat-catalina to 11.0.22 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
May 12, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 10, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 11, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

Versions Affected: Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M1 to 11.0.21 Apache Tomcat 10.1.0-M1 to 10.1.54 Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.117 Older, unsupported versions may also be affected Description: When DIGEST authentication was configured, any user not known to the configured Realm would be authenticated if they presented the password "null". Mitigation: Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following mitigations: - Upgrade to Apache Tomcat 11.0.22 or later - Upgrade to Apache Tomcat 10.1.55 or later - Upgrade to Apache Tomcat 9.0.118 or later

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.