CVE-2011-2088: Xwork core XWork Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9ccm-g362-2r35
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CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-2088 is a MODERATE xwork vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Xwork core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xwork in apache struts reveals sensitive information. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.2.2.

CVE-2011-2088 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-2088
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9ccm-g362-2r35
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Xwork core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-2088

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwork 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.xwork:xwork-core fixed: 2.2.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts.xwork</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwork-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.2.2</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.xwork

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2011-2088, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts.xwork

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xwork core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.2.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts.xwork 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-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. In Xwork 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

XWork 2.2.1 in Apache Struts 2.2.1, and OpenSymphony XWork in OpenSymphony WebWork, allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information about internal Java class paths via vectors involving an s:submit element and a nonexistent method, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-1772.3.

CVE-2011-2088 Affected Xwork core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.2.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core
maven/org.apache.struts.xwork/xwork-core
Maven
< 2.2.2
2.2.2

References

NVD — CVE-2011-2088 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2088
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/885ab3459e146ff830d1f7257f809f4a3dd4493a
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ww-3579 WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WW-3579
Xwork core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20110726113612/http://www.ventuneac.net/security-advisories/MVSA-11-006
Xwork core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20201207174744/http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/518066/100/0/threaded
secureappdev.blogspot.com/2011/05/apache-stru... WEB
http://secureappdev.blogspot.com/2011/05/apache-struts-2-xwork-webwork-reflected.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-2088?
CVE-2011-2088 is a security vulnerability in Xwork core involving XWork in Apache Struts Reveals Sensitive Information under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Xwork core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.2.2 across affected packages: org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core.
What version fixes CVE-2011-2088?
Upgrading to 2.2.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwork-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core is affected in releases prior to 2.2.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.2.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-2088?
CVE-2011-2088 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2011-2088?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.struts.xwork'. 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-9ccm-g362-2r35",
  "modified" : "2023-08-17T21:57:55Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T02:55:17Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-2088" ],
  "summary" : "XWork in Apache Struts Reveals Sensitive Information",
  "details" : "XWork 2.2.1 in Apache Struts 2.2.1, and OpenSymphony XWork in OpenSymphony WebWork, allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information about internal Java class paths via vectors involving an s:submit element and a nonexistent method, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-1772.3.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2088"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/885ab3459e146ff830d1f7257f809f4a3dd4493a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WW-3579"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20110726113612/http://www.ventuneac.net/security-advisories/MVSA-11-006"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20201207174744/http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/518066/100/0/threaded"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secureappdev.blogspot.com/2011/05/apache-struts-2-xwork-webwork-reflected.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-17T21:57:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2011-05-13T17:05:00Z"
  }
}