CVE-2018-11776: Struts2 core Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cr6j-3jp9-rw65
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-11776 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts vulnerable to remote command execution (rce) due to improper input validation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.35, 2.5.17.

CVE-2018-11776 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-11776
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cr6j-3jp9-rw65
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
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-2018-11776

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: 2.3.35 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.35</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.struts:struts2-core fixed: 2.5.17 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.17</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-2018-11776, 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 2.3.35), 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 contains a Remote Code Execution when using results with no namespace and it's upper actions have no or wildcard namespace. The same flaw exists when using a url tag with no value, action set, and it's upper actions have no or wildcard namespace.

CVE-2018-11776 Affected Struts2 core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.352.5.17
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.4
< 2.3.35
2.3.35
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.5
< 2.5.17
2.5.17

References

NVD — CVE-2018-11776 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11776
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/6e87474f9ad0549f07dd2c37d50a9ccd0977c6e
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45367 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45367
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45262 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45262
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45260 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45260
www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vul... WEB
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-11776
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20201208145803/https://securitytracker.com/id/1041547
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200807025819/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041888
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20180822160726/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105125
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20181018-0002
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180822-0001
psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/snwlid-... WEB
https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2018-0012
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
lgtm.com/blog/apache_struts_... WEB
https://lgtm.com/blog/apache_struts_CVE-2018-11776
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hook-s3c/CVE-2018-11776-Python-PoC
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-057
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172830/Apache-Struts-Remote-Code-Execution.html
www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/aruba-... WEB
http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2018-005.txt
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2018-11776-5072787.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105125
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041547
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041888

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-11776?
CVE-2018-11776 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Apache Struts vulnerable to remote command execution (RCE) due to improper input validation under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.35, 2.5.17 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2018-11776?
Upgrading to 2.3.35, 2.5.17 (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 2.3.35, 2.5.17. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.35, 2.5.17 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-11776?
CVE-2018-11776 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-11776?
CVE-2018-11776 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-2018-11776?
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-cr6j-3jp9-rw65",
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  "published" : "2018-10-18T19:24:38Z",
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  "summary" : "Apache Struts vulnerable to remote command execution (RCE) due to improper input validation",
  "details" : "Apache Struts contains a Remote Code Execution when using results with no namespace and it's upper actions have no or wildcard namespace. The same flaw exists when using a url tag with no value, action set,  and it's upper actions have no or wildcard namespace.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.35"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.3.34"
    }
  }, {
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    "ranges" : [ {
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        "introduced" : "2.5"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.17"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.5.16"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11776"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45367"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45262"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45260"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-11776"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20201208145803/https://securitytracker.com/id/1041547"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200807025819/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041888"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20180822160726/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105125"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20181018-0002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180822-0001"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2018-0012"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lgtm.com/blog/apache_struts_CVE-2018-11776"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hook-s3c/CVE-2018-11776-Python-PoC"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-057"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172830/Apache-Struts-Remote-Code-Execution.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2018-005.txt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2018-11776-5072787.html"
  }, {
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    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105125"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041547"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041888"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:32:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2018-08-22T13:29:00Z"
  }
}