CVE-2016-1181: Struts core Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7jw3-5q4w-89qg
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-1181 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Struts core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper input validation in apache struts. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2016-1181 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-1181
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7jw3-5q4w-89qg
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Struts 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:3.0/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-2016-1181

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Struts 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:struts-core fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
struts:struts fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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-2016-1181, 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 Struts core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Struts 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

ActionServlet.java in Apache Struts 1 1.x through 1.3.10 mishandles multithreaded access to an ActionForm instance, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (unexpected memory access) via a multipart request, a related issue to CVE-2015-0899.

CVE-2016-1181 Affected Struts core Versions

2 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts-core
Maven
≤ 1.3.10
struts:struts
maven/struts/struts
Maven
≤ 1.2.9

References

NVD — CVE-2016-1181 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1181
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kawasima/struts1-forever/commit/eda3a79907ed8fcb0387a0496d0cb14332f250e8
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1343538
Struts core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/struts
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-1181
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180629-0006
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html
jvn.jp/en/jp/jvn03188560/i... WEB
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN03188560/index.html
jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/jvndb-2016-00... WEB
http://jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/JVNDB-2016-000096
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html
Struts core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-1181?
CVE-2016-1181 is a security vulnerability in Struts core involving Improper Input Validation in Apache Struts under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Struts core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts-core, struts:struts.
What version fixes CVE-2016-1181?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is struts-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts:struts-core is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
Is struts affected?
Yes, struts:struts is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-1181?
CVE-2016-1181 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-1181?
CVE-2016-1181 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-1181?
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-7jw3-5q4w-89qg",
  "modified" : "2025-10-13T12:03:00Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:25:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-1181" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Input Validation in Apache Struts",
  "details" : "ActionServlet.java in Apache Struts 1 1.x through 1.3.10 mishandles multithreaded access to an ActionForm instance, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (unexpected memory access) via a multipart request, a related issue to CVE-2015-0899.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.3.10"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "struts:struts"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.2.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1181"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kawasima/struts1-forever/commit/eda3a79907ed8fcb0387a0496d0cb14332f250e8"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1343538"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-1181"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180629-0006"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN03188560/index.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/JVNDB-2016-000096"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T20:02:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-07-04T22:59:00Z"
  }
}