CVE-2023-50164: Struts2 core Path Traversal Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2j39-qcjm-428w
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-552
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-50164 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts vulnerable to path traversal. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.33, 6.3.0.2.

CVE-2023-50164 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-50164
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2j39-qcjm-428w
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-50164

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Struts2 core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.struts:struts2-core fixed: 2.5.33 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.33</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.struts:struts2-core fixed: 6.3.0.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>6.3.0.2</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-50164, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Struts2 core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.5.33), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties, where the product makes files or directories accessible to unauthorized actors, even though they should not be. In Struts2 core, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

An attacker can manipulate file upload params to enable paths traversal and under some circumstances this can lead to uploading a malicious file which can be used to perform Remote Code Execution. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions Struts 2.5.33 or Struts 6.3.0.2 or greater to fix this issue.

CVE-2023-50164 Affected Struts2 core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.5.336.3.0.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.5.33
2.5.33
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.3.0.2
6.3.0.2

References

NVD — CVE-2023-50164 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50164
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/162e29fee9136f4bfd9b2376da2cbf590f9ea163
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/d8c69691ef1d15e76a5f4fcf33039316da2340b6
cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-066
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
lists.apache.org/thread/yh09b3fkf6vz... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/yh09b3fkf6vz5d6jdgrlvmg60lfwtqhj
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231214-0010
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176157/Struts-S2-066-File-Upload-Remote-Code-Execution.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-50164?
CVE-2023-50164 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Apache Struts vulnerable to path traversal under CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.5.33, 6.3.0.2 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2023-50164?
Upgrading to 2.5.33, 6.3.0.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is struts2-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts:struts2-core is affected in releases prior to 2.5.33, 6.3.0.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.5.33, 6.3.0.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-50164?
CVE-2023-50164 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-50164?
CVE-2023-50164 is classified under CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties (The product makes files or directories accessible to unauthorized actors, even though they should not be.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-50164?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2j39-qcjm-428w",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T19:28:02Z",
  "published" : "2023-12-07T09:30:45Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-50164" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Struts vulnerable to path traversal",
  "details" : "An attacker can manipulate file upload params to enable paths traversal and under some circumstances this can lead to uploading a malicious file which can be used to perform Remote Code Execution.\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to versions Struts 2.5.33 or Struts 6.3.0.2 or greater to fix this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.33"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.3.0.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50164"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/162e29fee9136f4bfd9b2376da2cbf590f9ea163"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/d8c69691ef1d15e76a5f4fcf33039316da2340b6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-066"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/yh09b3fkf6vz5d6jdgrlvmg60lfwtqhj"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231214-0010"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176157/Struts-S2-066-File-Upload-Remote-Code-Execution.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-552" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-07T21:34:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-12-07T09:15:07Z"
  }
}