CVE-2011-3923: Struts2 core Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j68f-8h6p-9h5q
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-732 CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-3923 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves struts parameterinterceptor vulnerability allows remote command execution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.1.2.

CVE-2011-3923 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-3923
GHSA Identifier GHSA-j68f-8h6p-9h5q
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
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-2011-3923

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: 2.3.1.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.1.2</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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2011-3923, 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 2.3.1.2), 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-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, where the product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors. 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

Regular expression in ParametersInterceptor matches `top['foo'](0)` as a valid expression, which OGNL treats as `(top['foo'])(0)` and evaluates the value of 'foo' action parameter as an OGNL expression. This lets malicious users put arbitrary OGNL statements into any String variable exposed by an action and have it evaluated as an OGNL expression and since OGNL statement is in HTTP parameter value attacker can use blacklisted characters (e.g. #) to disable method execution and execute arbitrary methods, bypassing the ParametersInterceptor and OGNL library protections.

CVE-2011-3923 Affected Struts2 core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.1.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.1.2
2.3.1.2

References

NVD — CVE-2011-3923 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3923
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2011-3923
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/725... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/72585
Struts2 core Security Information SECURITY
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-3923
web.archive.org/web/20140725074137/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20140725074137/http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2014/Jul/38
blog.o0o.nu/2012/01/cve-2011-39... WEB
http://blog.o0o.nu/2012/01/cve-2011-3923-yet-another-struts2.html
struts.apache.org/development/2.x/doc... WEB
http://struts.apache.org/development/2.x/docs/s2-009.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-3923?
CVE-2011-3923 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Struts ParameterInterceptor vulnerability allows remote command execution under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.1.2 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
What version fixes CVE-2011-3923?
Upgrading to 2.3.1.2 (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 2.3.1.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.1.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2011-3923?
CVE-2011-3923 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-2011-3923?
CVE-2011-3923 is classified under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource (The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2011-3923?
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-j68f-8h6p-9h5q",
  "modified" : "2023-08-16T21:41:30Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-22T00:24:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-3923" ],
  "summary" : "Struts ParameterInterceptor vulnerability allows remote command execution",
  "details" : "Regular expression in ParametersInterceptor matches `top['foo'](0)` as a valid expression, which OGNL treats as `(top['foo'])(0)` and evaluates the value of 'foo' action parameter as an OGNL expression. This lets malicious users put arbitrary OGNL statements into any String variable exposed by an action and have it evaluated as an OGNL expression and since OGNL statement is in HTTP parameter value attacker can use blacklisted characters (e.g. #) to disable method execution and execute arbitrary methods, bypassing the ParametersInterceptor and OGNL library protections.",
  "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" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.1.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3923"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2011-3923"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/72585"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-3923"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20140725074137/http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2014/Jul/38"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://blog.o0o.nu/2012/01/cve-2011-3923-yet-another-struts2.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://struts.apache.org/development/2.x/docs/s2-009.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-732", "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-03T23:46:44Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-11-01T14:15:00Z"
  }
}