CVE-2016-0785: Struts2 core Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-876p-4wgc-75rx
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-0785 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts rce vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3.

CVE-2016-0785 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-0785
GHSA Identifier GHSA-876p-4wgc-75rx
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
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-2016-0785

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: 2.3.20.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.20.3</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.struts:struts2-core fixed: 2.3.24.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.24.3</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-2016-0785, 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 2.3.20.3), 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. 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

Apache Struts 2.x before 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3, and 2.3.28 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a `%{}` sequence in a tag attribute, aka forced double OGNL evaluation.

CVE-2016-0785 Affected Struts2 core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.20.32.3.24.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.20.3
2.3.20.3
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.3.24
< 2.3.24.3
2.3.24.3

References

NVD — CVE-2016-0785 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0785
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/15857a69e7baf3675804495a5954cd0756ac8364
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20210123095715/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85066
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20220118185853/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035271
struts.apache.org/docs/s2-029.html WEB
http://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-029.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-0785?
CVE-2016-0785 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Apache Struts RCE Vulnerability under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2016-0785?
Upgrading to 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3 (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 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-0785?
CVE-2016-0785 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-0785?
CVE-2016-0785 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-0785?
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-876p-4wgc-75rx",
  "modified" : "2023-12-28T19:58:42Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:52:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-0785" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Struts RCE Vulnerability",
  "details" : "Apache Struts 2.x before 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3, and 2.3.28 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a `%{}` sequence in a tag attribute, aka forced double OGNL evaluation.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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" : "2.3.20.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3.24"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.24.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0785"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/15857a69e7baf3675804495a5954cd0756ac8364"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20210123095715/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85066"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20220118185853/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035271"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-029.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-28T21:26:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-04-12T16:59:00Z"
  }
}