CVE-2016-4431: Struts parent Apache Struts Access Control Redirect Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vq79-mgpx-2wx4
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-4431 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) apache struts access control redirect vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Struts parent libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts access control redirect. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.29.

CVE-2016-4431 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-4431
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vq79-mgpx-2wx4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Struts parent
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2016-4431

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Struts parent 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-parent fixed: 2.3.29 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts-parent</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.29</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-2016-4431, 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 parent in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.3.29), 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 Struts parent, 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 2.3.20 through 2.3.28.1 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and conduct redirection attacks by leveraging a default method.

CVE-2016-4431 Affected Struts parent Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.29
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts-parent
maven/org.apache.struts/struts-parent
Maven
≥ 2.3.20
< 2.3.29
2.3.29

References

NVD — CVE-2016-4431 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4431
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/eccc31ebce5430f9e91b9684c63eaaf885e603f9
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1348252
Struts parent Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
struts.apache.org/docs/s2-040.html WEB
https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-040.html
Struts parent Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20210123145002/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91284
jvn.jp/en/jp/jvn45093481/i... WEB
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN45093481/index.html
jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/jvndb-2016-00... WEB
http://jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/JVNDB-2016-000113
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1009282
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21987854
Struts parent Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-4431?
CVE-2016-4431 is a security vulnerability in Struts parent involving Apache Struts Access Control Redirect under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Struts parent versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.29 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts-parent.
What version fixes CVE-2016-4431?
Upgrading to 2.3.29 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is struts-parent affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts:struts-parent is affected in releases prior to 2.3.29. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.29 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-4431?
CVE-2016-4431 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-4431?
CVE-2016-4431 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-2016-4431?
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-vq79-mgpx-2wx4",
  "modified" : "2023-11-02T20:42:21Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T02:16:00Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-4431" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Struts Access Control Redirect",
  "details" : "Apache Struts 2 2.3.20 through 2.3.28.1 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and conduct redirection attacks by leveraging a default method.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts-parent"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3.20"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.29"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.3.28.1"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4431"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/eccc31ebce5430f9e91b9684c63eaaf885e603f9"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1348252"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-040.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20210123145002/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91284"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN45093481/index.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/JVNDB-2016-000113"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1009282"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21987854"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-31T22:21:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-07-04T22:59:00Z"
  }
}