Apache Struts vulnerable to remote arbitrary command execution due to improper input validation
CISA confirms exploitation of this vulnerability in real attacks. Prioritise checking whether your application is affected. CISA KEV · CC0 1.0
Apache Struts versions prior to 2.3.32 and 2.5.10.1 contain incorrect exception handling and error-message generation during file-upload attempts using the Jakarta Multipart parser, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or Content-Length HTTP header, as exploited in the wild in March 2017 with a Content-Type header containing a #cmd= string.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.32, >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.10.1 | 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5638
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/issues/8064
- https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/b06dd50af2a3319dd896bf5c2f4972d2b772cf2b
- https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.html
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txt
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170310-0001
- https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.html
- https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.html
- https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/len-14200
- https://twitter.com/theog150/status/841146956135124993
- https://web.archive.org/web/20170311203630/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729
- https://web.archive.org/web/20170921030226/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-5638
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41614
- https://www.imperva.com/blog/2017/03/cve-2017-5638-new-remote-code-execution-rce-vulnerability-in-apache-struts-2
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/834067
- https://www.symantec.com/security-center/network-protection-security-advisories/SA145
- https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites
- https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-045
- https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046
- https://exploit-db.com/exploits/41570
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git;a=commit;h=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git;a=commit;h=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989
- https://github.com/apache/struts
- https://github.com/mazen160/struts-pwn
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03733en_us
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03749en_us
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03723en_us
- https://isc.sans.edu/diary/22169
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20, CWE-755- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.struts:struts2-core- Disclosed
- 18.10.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.struts:struts2-core
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 60
- First → latest
- 10.2018 01.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 6
Severity breakdown
- Critical 14
- High 25
- Medium 20
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 6
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 45
- 2023: 4
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 1
-
Apache Struts vulnerable to remote arbitrary command execution due to improper input validation this entry
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