CVE-2017-5638: Struts2 core Apache Struts Vulnerable To Remote Vulnerability

Q: What is CVE-2017-5638?

CVE-2017-5638 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Apache Struts vulnerable to remote arbitrary command execution due to improper input validation under CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions.

Q: Which Struts2 core versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.

Q: What version fixes CVE-2017-5638?

Upgrading to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Q: Is struts2-core affected?

Yes, org.apache.struts:struts2-core is affected in releases prior to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 or later.

Q: What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5638?

CVE-2017-5638 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H.

Q: What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-5638?

CVE-2017-5638 is classified under CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions (The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.).

Q: How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-5638?

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.

CRITICAL

Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989

CVSS 10.0

CWE-755 CWE-20

Published 2018-10-18

Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-5638 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 10.0) apache struts vulnerable to remote vulnerability (CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts vulnerable to remote arbitrary command execution due to improper input validation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1.

CVE-2017-5638 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-5638

GHSA Identifier GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989

Severity CRITICAL

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 10.0

CWE Classification CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions

Affected Product Struts2 core

Package Ecosystem Maven

Published Date 2018-10-18

Last Updated 2025-10-22

Security Impact

CVSS: 10.0

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)

Privileges Required None (PR:N)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Changed (S:C)

Confidentiality High (C:H)

Integrity High (I:H)

Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-5638

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: 2.3.32

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.32</version>
</dependency>

org.apache.struts:struts2-core fixed: 2.5.10.1

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.10.1</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-2017-5638, 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 2.3.32), 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-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions, where the product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition. 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 versions prior to 2.3.32 and 2.5.10.1 contain incorrect exception handling and error-message generation during file-upload attempts using the Jakarta Multipart parser, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or Content-Length HTTP header, as exploited in the wild in March 2017 with a Content-Type header containing a #cmd= string.

CVE-2017-5638 Affected Struts2 core Versions

2 component(s)

Fixed Versions:

2.3.322.5.10.1

Product / Package	Ecosystem	Affected Versions	Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core	Maven	≥ 2.3.0 < 2.3.32	2.3.32
org.apache.struts:struts2-core maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core	Maven	≥ 2.5.0 < 2.5.10.1	2.5.10.1

References

NVD — CVE-2017-5638 NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5638

Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/issues/8064

Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT

https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/b06dd50af2a3319dd896bf5c2f4972d2b772cf2b

Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT

https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a

nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http... WEB

https://nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.html

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e4... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890a... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890a... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txt

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170310-0001

struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.html WEB

https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.html

struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.html WEB

https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.html

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/len-14200

twitter.com/theog150/status/841... WEB

https://twitter.com/theog150/status/841146956135124993

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://web.archive.org/web/20170311203630/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://web.archive.org/web/20170921030226/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973

www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vul... WEB

https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-5638

www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41614 WEB

https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41614

www.imperva.com/blog/2017/03/cve-20... WEB

https://www.imperva.com/blog/2017/03/cve-2017-5638-new-remote-code-execution-rce-vulnerability-in-apache-struts-2

www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/834067 WEB

https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/834067

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://www.symantec.com/security-center/network-protection-security-advisories/SA145

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites

cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB

https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-045

cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB

https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046

exploit-db.com/exploits/41570 WEB

https://exploit-db.com/exploits/41570

git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf WEB

https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a

git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf WEB

https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228

git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf WEB

https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git;a=commit;h=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a

git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf WEB

https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git;a=commit;h=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY

https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989

Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/apache/struts

Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/mazen160/struts-pwn

h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/dis... WEB

https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03733en_us

h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/dis... WEB

https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03749en_us

h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/dis... WEB

https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03723en_us

isc.sans.edu/diary/22169 WEB

https://isc.sans.edu/diary/22169

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e4... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E

blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-da... WEB

http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.html

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/cve-2017-5638-apache-struts-vulnerability-remote-code-execution

www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/aruba-... WEB

http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-002.txt

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

http://www.eweek.com/security/apache-struts-vulnerability-under-attack.html

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729

Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY

http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-5638?

CVE-2017-5638 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Apache Struts vulnerable to remote arbitrary command execution due to improper input validation under CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions.

Which Struts2 core versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.

What version fixes CVE-2017-5638?

Upgrading to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 (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 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.32, 2.5.10.1 or later.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5638?

CVE-2017-5638 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H.

What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-5638?

CVE-2017-5638 is classified under CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions (The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.).

How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-5638?

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

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  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-755" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:42:23Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-03-11T02:59:00Z"
  }
}

CVSS V3

10.0 CRITICAL

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)

Privileges Required None (PR:N)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Changed (S:C)

Confidentiality High (C:H)

Integrity High (I:H)

Availability High (A:H)

Vector String

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H

Advisory Metadata

Source ID: GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989
Schema Version: 1.4.0
Published: 2018-10-18 19:24
Last Modified: 2025-10-22 17:33
Database Record File: advisories/github-reviewed/2018/10/GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989/GHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989.json