CVE-2014-0113: Struts2 core ClassLoader Manipulation Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3c5c-xrq4-qhr8
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Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-0113 is a HIGH classloader manipulation vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves classloader manipulation in apache struts. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.20.

CVE-2014-0113 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-0113
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3c5c-xrq4-qhr8
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2014-0113

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: 2.3.20 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.20</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-2014-0113, 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 2.3.20), 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 General Security Weakness. 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

CookieInterceptor in Apache Struts before 2.3.20, when a wildcard cookiesName value is used, does not properly restrict access to the getClass method, which allows remote attackers to "manipulate" the ClassLoader and execute arbitrary code via a crafted request. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-0094.

CVE-2014-0113 Affected Struts2 core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.20
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
< 2.3.20
2.3.20

References

NVD — CVE-2014-0113 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0113
cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-021
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21676706

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-0113?
CVE-2014-0113 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving ClassLoader manipulation in Apache Struts under General Security Weakness.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.20 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2014-0113?
Upgrading to 2.3.20 (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 2.3.20. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.20 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-0113?
CVE-2014-0113 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2014-0113?
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-3c5c-xrq4-qhr8",
  "modified" : "2022-11-03T22:53:53Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:54:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-0113" ],
  "summary" : "ClassLoader manipulation in Apache Struts",
  "details" : "CookieInterceptor in Apache Struts before 2.3.20, when a wildcard cookiesName value is used, does not properly restrict access to the getClass method, which allows remote attackers to \"manipulate\" the ClassLoader and execute arbitrary code via a crafted request. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-0094.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.20"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0113"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-021"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21676706"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-03T22:53:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-04-29T10:37:00Z"
  }
}