CVE-2013-4310: Struts2 core Apache Struts2 Broken Access Control Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q5q8-jghf-3pm3
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CWE-284
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-4310 is a MODERATE apache struts2 broken access control vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts2 broken access control vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.15.3.

CVE-2013-4310 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-4310
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q5q8-jghf-3pm3
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2013-4310

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: 2.3.15.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.15.3</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-2013-4310, 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 2.3.15.3), 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-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. 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

The Struts 2 action mapping mechanism supports the special parameter prefix action: which is intended to help with attaching navigational information to buttons within forms, under certain conditions this can be used to bypass security constraints. In Struts 2.3.15.3 the action mapping mechanism was changed to avoid circumventing security constraints. Two additional constants were introduced to steer behaviour of DefaultActionMapper: - struts.mapper.action.prefix.enabled - when set to false support for "action:" prefix is disabled, set to false by default - struts.mapper.action.prefix.crossNamespaces - when set to false, actions defined with "action:" prefix must be in the same namespace as current action

CVE-2013-4310 Affected Struts2 core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.15.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
< 2.3.15.3
2.3.15.3

References

NVD — CVE-2013-4310 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4310
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/0c8366cb792227d484b9ca13e537037dd0cb57dc
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
struts.apache.org/release/2.3.x/docs/... WEB
http://struts.apache.org/release/2.3.x/docs/s2-018.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-4310?
CVE-2013-4310 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Apache Struts2 Broken Access Control Vulnerability under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.15.3 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2013-4310?
Upgrading to 2.3.15.3 (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 2.3.15.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.15.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-4310?
CVE-2013-4310 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2013-4310?
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-q5q8-jghf-3pm3",
  "modified" : "2023-08-15T19:02:21Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T04:44:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-4310" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Struts2 Broken Access Control Vulnerability",
  "details" : "The Struts 2 action mapping mechanism supports the special parameter prefix action: which is intended to help with attaching navigational information to buttons within forms, under certain conditions this can be used to bypass security constraints. \n\nIn Struts 2.3.15.3 the action mapping mechanism was changed to avoid circumventing security constraints. Two additional constants were introduced to steer behaviour of DefaultActionMapper:\n\n- struts.mapper.action.prefix.enabled - when set to false support for \"action:\" prefix is disabled, set to false by default\n- struts.mapper.action.prefix.crossNamespaces - when set to false, actions defined with \"action:\" prefix must be in the same namespace as current action\n\n",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.15.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4310"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/0c8366cb792227d484b9ca13e537037dd0cb57dc"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://struts.apache.org/release/2.3.x/docs/s2-018.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-03T23:00:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-09-30T21:55:00Z"
  }
}