Hacking attempts from IP 127.0.0.1 - are there any exploits to be aware of?

I noticed numerous entries in Tomcat's local_access_log for various resources coming from IP 127.0.0.1. These are clearly attempts to hack. For example, here's a request to access the "manager" application:

127.0.0.1 - - [30/Apr/2015:13:35:13 +0000] "GET /manager/html HTTP/1.1" 401 2474

      

        
        
        
      

    

here is another one:

127.0.0.1 - - [30/Apr/2015:21:23:37 +0000] "POST /cgi-bin/php?%2D%64+%61%6C%6C%6F%77%5F%75%72%6C%5F%69%6E%63%6C%75%64%65%3D%6F%6E+%2D%64+%73%61%66%65%5F%6D%6F%64%65%3D%6F%66%66+%2D%64+%73%75%68%6F%73%69%6E%2E%73%69%6D%75%6C%61%74%69%6F%6E%3D%6F%6E+%2D%64+%64%69%73%61%62%6C%65%5F%66%75%6E%63%74%69%6F%6E%73%3D%22%22+%2D%64+%6F%70%65%6E%5F%62%61%73%65%64%69%72%3D%6E%6F%6E%65+%2D%64+%61%75%74%6F%5F%70%72%65%70%65%6E%64%5F%66%69%6C%65%3D%70%68%70%3A%2F%2F%69%6E%70%75%74+%2D%64+%63%67%69%2E%66%6F%72%63%65%5F%72%65%64%69%72%65%63%74%3D%30+%2D%64+%63%67%69%2E%72%65%64%69%72%65%63%74%5F%73%74%61%74%75%73%5F%65%6E%76%3D%22%79%65%73%22+%2D%64+%63%67%69%2E%66%69%78%5F%70%61%74%68%69%6E%66%6F%3D%31+%2D%64+%61%75%74%6F%5F%70%72%65%70%65%6E%64%5F%66%69%6C%65%3D%70%68%70%3A%2F%2F%69%6E%70%75%74+%2D%6E HTTP/1.1" 404 1016

      

        
        
        
      

    

When decoded, the url is like this:

127.0.0.1 - - [30/Apr/2015:21:23:37  0000] "POST /cgi-bin/php?-d allow_url_include=on -d safe_mode=off -d suhosin.simulation=on -d disable_functions="" -d open_basedir=none -d auto_prepend_file=php://input -d cgi.force_redirect=0 -d cgi.redirect_status_env="yes" -d cgi.fix_pathinfo=1 -d auto_prepend_file=php://input -n HTTP/1.1" 404 1016

      

        
        
        
      

    

There are many such entries, all from the IP address 127.0.0.1. Obviously, since this is a localhost address, I cannot block it. Moreover, I am not sure if there is anything I can do about it. Is it possible the site needs to be fixed? For example, is there a version of Tomcat that has an associated vulnerability? I am starting Tomcat 8.

Thanks a lot for any advice!

UPDATE: Thanks for the proxy suggestion. It turned out that httpd is indeed installed and no surprise there is a suspicious request. For example:

[Sat Mar 30 17:26:49 2013] [error] [client 5.34.247.59] Invalid URI in request GET /_mem_bin/../../../../winnt/system32/cmd.exe?/c+dir HTTP/1.0
[Sat Mar 30 17:26:49 2013] [error] [client 5.34.247.59] Invalid URI in request GET /_mem_bin/../../../../winnt/system32/cmd.exe?/c+dir%20c:\\ HTTP/1.0
[Sat Mar 30 17:26:49 2013] [error] [client 5.34.247.59] Invalid URI in request GET /_mem_bin/../../../../winnt/system32/cmd.exe?/c+dir%20c:\\ HTTP/1.0 

      

        
        
        
      

    

It's not a Windows system, so cmd.exe is not the place for it ...