High

Apache Struts REST Plugin can potentially allow a DoS attack

  • Disclosed: 16.10.2018
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 11:22

The Apache Struts REST Plugin is using XStream library which is vulnerable and allow perform a DoS attack when using a malicious request with specially crafted XML payload. Upgrade to the Apache Struts version 2.5.16 and switch to an optional Jackson XML handler as described here http://struts.apache.org/plugins/rest/#custom-contenttypehandlers. Another option is to implement a custom XML handler based on the Jackson XML handler from the Apache Struts 2.5.16.

Affected software

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PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin >= 2.1.1, < 2.5.16 2.5.16

References

CVSS score 7.5/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-91
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin
Disclosed
16.10.2018
Updated
11.10.2026 11:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-38cr-2ph5-frr9 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin

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
6
First → latest
10.2018 05.2022
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
1

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 1
  • High 4
  • Medium 1

Disclosures per year

  1. 2018: 4
  2. 2019: 0
  3. 2020: 0
  4. 2021: 0
  5. 2022: 2
  6. 2023: 0
  7. 2024: 0
  8. 2025: 0
  9. 2026: 0
  1. High CVE-2013-4316 >= 2.0.0, < 2.3.15.2 2.3.15.2
  2. Critical · 9.8 CVE-2016-4438 >= 2.3.19, < 2.3.29 2.3.29
  3. High · 8.1 Exploited in attacks CVE-2017-9805 >= 2.1.1, < 2.3.34, >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.13 2.3.34, 2.5.13
  4. High · 7.5 CVE-2017-9793 < 2.3.34, >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.13 2.3.34, 2.5.13
  5. Medium · 6.2 CVE-2017-15707 >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.16 2.5.16
  6. Apache Struts REST Plugin can potentially allow a DoS attack this entry
    High · 7.5 CVE-2018-1327 >= 2.1.1, < 2.5.16 2.5.16

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