CVE-2013-1966: Struts2 core Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-737w-mh58-cxjp
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CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-1966 is a HIGH arbitrary code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves arbitrary code execution in apache struts. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.14.2.

CVE-2013-1966 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-1966
GHSA Identifier GHSA-737w-mh58-cxjp
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2013-1966

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: 2.3.14.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.14.2</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core fixed: 2.3.14.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts.xwork</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwork-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.14.2</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-2013-1966, 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 2.3.14.2), 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-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. 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 before 2.3.14.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OGNL code via a crafted request that is not properly handled when using the includeParams attribute in the (1) URL or (2) A tag.

CVE-2013-1966 Affected Struts2 core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.14.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.14.2
2.3.14.2
org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core
maven/org.apache.struts.xwork/xwork-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.14.2
2.3.14.2

References

NVD — CVE-2013-1966 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1966
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/7e6f641ebb142663cbd1653dc49bed725edf7f56
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=967656
cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/... WEB
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-013
Struts2 core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
struts.apache.org/development/2.x/doc... WEB
http://struts.apache.org/development/2.x/docs/s2-013.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-1966?
CVE-2013-1966 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Arbitrary code execution in Apache Struts under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.14.2 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core, org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core.
What version fixes CVE-2013-1966?
Upgrading to 2.3.14.2 (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 2.3.14.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.14.2 or later.
Is xwork-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core is affected in releases prior to 2.3.14.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.14.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-1966?
CVE-2013-1966 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2013-1966?
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-737w-mh58-cxjp",
  "modified" : "2022-11-03T22:54:13Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:54:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-1966" ],
  "summary" : "Arbitrary code execution in Apache Struts",
  "details" : "Apache Struts 2 before 2.3.14.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OGNL code via a crafted request that is not properly handled when using the includeParams attribute in the (1) URL or (2) A tag.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.14.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.14.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1966"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/7e6f641ebb142663cbd1653dc49bed725edf7f56"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=967656"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-013"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://struts.apache.org/development/2.x/docs/s2-013.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-03T22:54:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-07-10T19:55:00Z"
  }
}