CVE-2023-34396: Struts2 core Apache Struts Vulnerable To Memory Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2023-34396 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) apache struts vulnerable to memory vulnerability (CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling) affecting Struts2 core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache struts vulnerable to memory exhaustion. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.31, 6.1.2.1.
CVE-2023-34396 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 7.5
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2023-34396
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.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
<artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
<version>2.5.31</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
<artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
<version>6.1.2.1</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
<artifactId>struts-core</artifactId>
<version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>struts</groupId>
<artifactId>struts</artifactId>
<version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.strutsHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-34396, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.strutsAnalyze 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 2.5.31), 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-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling, where the product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated. 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
CVE-2023-34396 Affected Struts2 core Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
|
Maven |
< 2.5.31
|
2.5.31
|
|
org.apache.struts:struts2-core
|
Maven |
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.1.2.1
|
6.1.2.1
|
|
org.apache.struts:struts-core
|
Maven |
≤ 1.3.10
|
|
|
struts:struts
|
Maven |
≤ 1.2.9
|
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-34396?
Which Struts2 core versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-34396?
Is struts2-core affected?
Is struts-core affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-34396?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-34396?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-34396?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-4g42-gqrg-4633",
"modified" : "2025-10-13T12:40:51Z",
"published" : "2023-06-14T09:30:42Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-34396" ],
"summary" : "Apache Struts vulnerable to memory exhaustion",
"details" : "Denial of service via out of memory (OOM) owing to no sanity limit on normal form fields in multipart forms. When a Multipart request has non-file normal form fields, Struts used to bring them into memory as Strings without checking their sizes. This could lead to an OOM if developer has set struts.multipart.maxSize to a value equal or greater than the available memory.\n\nUpgrade to Struts 2.5.31 or 6.1.2.1 or greater",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/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-core"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.5.31"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.struts:struts2-core"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "6.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "6.1.2.1"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"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-2023-34396"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/2d6f1bc0a6f5ac575a56784ac6461816b67c4f21"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-064"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/releases/tag/STRUTS_2_5_31"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/struts/releases/tag/STRUTS_6_1_2_1"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230706-0005"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/06/14/3"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-770" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2023-06-14T20:16:52Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2023-06-14T08:15:09Z"
}
}