CVE-2016-3093: Struts2 core Denial of Service Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-383p-xqxx-rrmp
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-3093 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves denial of service in apache struts. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.24.3, 3.0.12.

CVE-2016-3093 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-3093
GHSA Identifier GHSA-383p-xqxx-rrmp
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Struts2 core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).

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 None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2016-3093

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: 2.3.24.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.24.3</version>
</dependency>
ognl:ognl fixed: 3.0.12 
<dependency>
    <groupId>ognl</groupId>
    <artifactId>ognl</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.12</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-2016-3093, 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 2.3.24.3), 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 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 2.0.0 through 2.3.24.1 does not properly cache method references when used with OGNL before 3.0.12, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (block access to a web site) via unspecified vectors.

CVE-2016-3093 Affected Struts2 core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.24.33.0.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-core
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.3.24.3
2.3.24.3
ognl:ognl
maven/ognl/ognl
Maven
< 3.0.12
3.0.12

References

NVD — CVE-2016-3093 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3093
lists.apache.org/thread.html/940b4c3... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/940b4c3fef002461b89a050935337056d4a036a65ef68e0bbd4621ef%40%3Cdev.struts.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/940b4c3... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/940b4c3fef002461b89a050935337056d4a036a65ef68e0bbd4621ef@%3Cdev.struts.apache.org%3E
struts.apache.org/docs/s2-034.html WEB
https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-034.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-3093?
CVE-2016-3093 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 core involving Denial of service in Apache Struts under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.24.3, 3.0.12 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core, ognl:ognl.
What version fixes CVE-2016-3093?
Upgrading to 2.3.24.3, 3.0.12 (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 2.3.24.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.24.3 or later.
Is ognl affected?
Yes, ognl:ognl is affected in releases prior to 3.0.12. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.12 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-3093?
CVE-2016-3093 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-3093?
CVE-2016-3093 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-2016-3093?
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-383p-xqxx-rrmp",
  "modified" : "2024-03-14T21:50:52Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T03:42:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-3093" ],
  "summary" : "Denial of service in Apache Struts",
  "details" : "Apache Struts 2.0.0 through 2.3.24.1 does not properly cache method references when used with OGNL before 3.0.12, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (block access to a web site) via unspecified vectors.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.24.3"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.3.24.1"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "ognl:ognl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3093"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/940b4c3fef002461b89a050935337056d4a036a65ef68e0bbd4621ef%40%3Cdev.struts.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/940b4c3fef002461b89a050935337056d4a036a65ef68e0bbd4621ef@%3Cdev.struts.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-034.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T19:56:14Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-06-07T18:59:00Z"
  }
}