CVE-2005-3745: Struts core Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9cjh-qmvx-436c
Share
CWE-80
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2005-3745 is a MODERATE cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS)) affecting Struts core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts cross-site scripting vulnerability. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2005-3745 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2005-3745
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9cjh-qmvx-436c
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS)
Affected Product Struts core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2005-3745

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Struts 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:struts-core fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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-2005-3745, 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 Struts core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), 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-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS), where the product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages. In Struts 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

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Struts 1.2.7, and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string, which is not properly quoted or filtered when the request handler generates an error message.

CVE-2005-3745 Affected Struts core Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts-core
Maven
≤ 1.2.7

References

NVD — CVE-2005-3745 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-3745
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r02c2d6... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r02c2d634fa74209d941c90f9a4cd36a6f12366ca65f9b90446ff2de3@%3Cissues.struts.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf482c1... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf482c101a88445d73cc2e89dbf7f16ae00a4aa79a544a1e72b2326db@%3Cissues.struts.apache.org%3E
web.archive.org/web/20051230061138/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20051230061138/http://www.hacktics.com/AdvStrutsNov05.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20060315133810/http://securitytracker.com/alerts/2005/Nov/1015257.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20060408105414/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15512
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20201125023452/http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/417296/30/0/threaded
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20201207010315/https://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2005110055
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2006-0157.html
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2006-0161.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2005-3745?
CVE-2005-3745 is a security vulnerability in Struts core involving Apache Struts Cross-site scripting Vulnerability under CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS).
Which Struts core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts-core.
What version fixes CVE-2005-3745?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is struts-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts:struts-core is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2005-3745?
CVE-2005-3745 is classified under CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) (The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2005-3745?
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-9cjh-qmvx-436c",
  "modified" : "2023-09-18T23:52:44Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-01T02:20:38Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2005-3745" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Struts Cross-site scripting Vulnerability",
  "details" : "Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Struts 1.2.7, and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string, which is not properly quoted or filtered when the request handler generates an error message.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.2.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-3745"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r02c2d634fa74209d941c90f9a4cd36a6f12366ca65f9b90446ff2de3@%3Cissues.struts.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf482c101a88445d73cc2e89dbf7f16ae00a4aa79a544a1e72b2326db@%3Cissues.struts.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20051230061138/http://www.hacktics.com/AdvStrutsNov05.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20060315133810/http://securitytracker.com/alerts/2005/Nov/1015257.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20060408105414/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15512"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20201125023452/http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/417296/30/0/threaded"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20201207010315/https://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2005110055"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2006-0157.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2006-0161.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-80" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-09-18T23:52:44Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2005-11-22T11:03:00Z"
  }
}