CVE-2019-0230: Struts2 core Improperly Controlled Modification Of Dynamically-Determined Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wp4h-pvgw-5727
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-1321 CWE-915
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-0230 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) improperly controlled modification of dynamically-determined vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improperly controlled modification of dynamically-determined object attributes in apache struts. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.22.

CVE-2019-0230 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-0230
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wp4h-pvgw-5727
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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 High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2019-0230

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: 2.5.22 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.22</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-2019-0230, 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 2.5.22), 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-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution'), where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype. 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 2.0.0 to 2.5.20 forced double OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution.

CVE-2019-0230 Affected Struts2 core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.5.22
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.5.22
2.5.22

References

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890a... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160108/Apache-Struts-2.5.20-Double-OGNL-Evaluation.html
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160721/Apache-Struts-2-Forced-Multi-OGNL-Evaluation.html
NVD — CVE-2019-0230 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0230
cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/ww/s2-059
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
launchpad.support.sap.com/ WEB
https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2982840
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-0230?
CVE-2019-0230 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes in Apache Struts under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.5.22 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2019-0230?
Upgrading to 2.5.22 (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 2.5.22. Upgrade your dependency to 2.5.22 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-0230?
CVE-2019-0230 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-0230?
CVE-2019-0230 is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2019-0230?
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-wp4h-pvgw-5727",
  "modified" : "2021-12-02T14:45:03Z",
  "published" : "2021-12-02T14:50:51Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-0230" ],
  "summary" : "Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes in Apache Struts",
  "details" : "Apache Struts 2.0.0 to 2.5.20 forced double OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
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    "url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/ww/s2-059"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2982840"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160108/Apache-Struts-2.5.20-Double-OGNL-Evaluation.html"
  }, {
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    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160721/Apache-Struts-2-Forced-Multi-OGNL-Evaluation.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321", "CWE-915" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-12-02T14:45:03Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-09-14T17:15:00Z"
  }
}