CVE-2013-2115: Struts2 core Code Injection Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7ghm-rpc7-p7g5
CVSS 8.1
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-2115 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) code injection vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves code injection in apache struts. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.14.2.

CVE-2013-2115 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-2115
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7ghm-rpc7-p7g5
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
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-2013-2115

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-2013-2115, 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

A vulnerability introduced by forcing parameter inclusion in the URL and Anchor Tag allows remote command execution, session access and manipulation and XSS attacks. both the s:url and s:a tag provide an includeParams attribute. The main scope of that attribute is to understand whether includes http request parameter or not. The allowed values of includeParams are: none - include no parameters in the URL (default) get - include only GET parameters in the URL all - include both GET and POST parameters in the URL A request that included a specially crafted request parameter could be used to inject arbitrary OGNL code into the stack, afterward used as request parameter of an URL or A tag , which will cause a further evaluation. The second evaluation happens when the URL/A tag tries to resolve every parameters present in the original request. This lets malicious users put arbitrary OGNL statements into any request parameter (not necessarily managed by the code) and have it evaluated as an OGNL expression to enable method execution and execute arbitrary methods, bypassing Struts and OGNL library protections. The issue was originally addressed by Struts 2.3.14.1 and Security Announcement [S2-013](https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-013). However, the solution introduced with 2.3.14.1 did not address all possible attack vectors, such that every version of Struts 2 before 2.3.14.2 is still vulnerable to such attacks.

CVE-2013-2115 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
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.14.2
2.3.14.2
org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.14.2
2.3.14.2

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-2115?
CVE-2013-2115 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Code injection 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-2013-2115?
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 is the CVSS score of CVE-2013-2115?
CVE-2013-2115 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-2115?
CVE-2013-2115 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-2013-2115?
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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-7ghm-rpc7-p7g5",
  "modified" : "2022-11-03T23:44:50Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:16:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-2115" ],
  "summary" : "Code injection in Apache Struts",
  "details" : "A vulnerability introduced by forcing parameter inclusion in the URL and Anchor Tag allows remote command execution, session access and manipulation and XSS attacks.\n\nboth the s:url and s:a tag provide an includeParams attribute.\n\nThe main scope of that attribute is to understand whether includes http request parameter or not.\n\nThe allowed values of includeParams are:\n\n    none - include no parameters in the URL (default)\n    get - include only GET parameters in the URL\n    all - include both GET and POST parameters in the URL\n\nA request that included a specially crafted request parameter could be used to inject arbitrary OGNL code into the stack, afterward used as request parameter of an URL or A tag , which will cause a further evaluation.\n\nThe second evaluation happens when the URL/A tag tries to resolve every parameters present in the original request.\nThis lets malicious users put arbitrary OGNL statements into any request parameter (not necessarily managed by the code) and have it evaluated as an OGNL expression to enable method execution and execute arbitrary methods, bypassing Struts and OGNL library protections.\n\nThe issue was originally addressed by Struts 2.3.14.1 and Security Announcement [S2-013](https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-013). However, the solution introduced with 2.3.14.1 did not address all possible attack vectors, such that every version of Struts 2 before 2.3.14.2 is still vulnerable to such attacks.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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" : "2.3.14.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "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-2013-2115"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/d7804297e319c7a12245e1b536e565fcea6d650"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/d934c6e7430b7b98e43a0a085a2304bd31a75c3d"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/ea96d18d0f75c390d2595648efa3563785c272c6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/fed4f8e8a4ec69b5e7612b92d8ce3e476680474"
  }, {
    "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" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-014"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WW-4063"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20140212000331/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/60167"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://struts.apache.org/development/2.x/docs/s2-014.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-03T23:44:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-07-10T19:55:00Z"
  }
}