CVE-2017-9793: Struts2 rest plugin The REST Plugin Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vwxj-6m5m-rrvh
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-9793 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) the rest plugin vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Struts2 rest plugin libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves the rest plugin in apache struts is using an outdated xstream library. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.34, 2.5.13.

CVE-2017-9793 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-9793
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vwxj-6m5m-rrvh
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Struts2 rest plugin
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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: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 None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-9793

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Struts2 rest plugin 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-rest-plugin fixed: 2.3.34 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-rest-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.34</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin fixed: 2.5.13 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-rest-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.13</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-2017-9793, 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 rest plugin in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.3.34), 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 rest plugin, 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

The REST Plugin in Apache Struts 2.3.7 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.12 is using an outdated XStream library which is vulnerable and allow perform a DoS attack using malicious request with specially crafted XML payload.

CVE-2017-9793 Affected Struts2 rest plugin Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.342.5.13
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-rest-plugin
Maven
< 2.3.34
2.3.34
org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin
maven/org.apache.struts/struts2-rest-plugin
Maven
≥ 2.5.0
< 2.5.13
2.5.13

References

NVD — CVE-2017-9793 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9793
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-vwxj-6m5m-rrvh
Struts2 rest plugin Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180629-0001
struts.apache.org/docs/s2-051.html WEB
https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-051.html
Struts2 rest plugin Security Information SECURITY
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170907-struts2
Struts2 rest plugin Security Information SECURITY
http://www.brocade.com/content/dam/common/documents/content-types/security-bulletin/brocade-security-advisory-2017-429.htm
Struts2 rest plugin Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2017-9805-3889403.html
Struts2 rest plugin Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100611
Struts2 rest plugin Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039262

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-9793?
CVE-2017-9793 is a security vulnerability in Struts2 rest plugin involving The REST Plugin in Apache Struts is using an outdated XStream library under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Struts2 rest plugin versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.34, 2.5.13 across affected packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin.
What version fixes CVE-2017-9793?
Upgrading to 2.3.34, 2.5.13 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is struts2-rest-plugin affected?
Yes, org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin is affected in releases prior to 2.3.34, 2.5.13. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.34, 2.5.13 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-9793?
CVE-2017-9793 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-9793?
CVE-2017-9793 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-2017-9793?
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-vwxj-6m5m-rrvh",
  "modified" : "2022-04-26T19:02:10Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-16T19:37:22Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-9793" ],
  "summary" : "The REST Plugin in Apache Struts is using an outdated XStream library",
  "details" : "The REST Plugin in Apache Struts 2.3.7 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.12 is using an outdated XStream library which is vulnerable and allow perform a DoS attack using malicious request with specially crafted XML payload.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.34"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.13"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.5.12"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9793"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-vwxj-6m5m-rrvh"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180629-0001"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-051.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170907-struts2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.brocade.com/content/dam/common/documents/content-types/security-bulletin/brocade-security-advisory-2017-429.htm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2017-9805-3889403.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100611"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039262"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:58:41Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}