Code injection in Apache Struts
CISA confirms exploitation of this vulnerability in real attacks. Prioritise checking whether your application is affected. CISA KEV · CC0 1.0
The Struts 2 DefaultActionMapper supports a method for short-circuit navigation state changes by prefixing parameters with "action:" or "redirect:", followed by a desired navigational target expression. This mechanism was intended to help with attaching navigational information to buttons within forms.
In Struts 2 before 2.3.15.1 the information following "action:", "redirect:" or "redirectAction:" is not properly sanitized. Since said information will be evaluated as OGNL expression against the value stack, this introduces the possibility to inject server side code.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | < 2.3.15.1 | 2.3.15.1 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-2251
- https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/3cfe34fefedcf0fdcfcb061c0aea34a715b7de6
- https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/630e1ba065a8215c4e9ac03bfb09be9d655c2b6e
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/90392
- https://github.com/apache/struts
- https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WW-4140
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-2251
- http://archiva.apache.org/security.html
- http://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2014010087
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159629/Apache-Struts-2-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2013/Oct/96
- http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/89
- http://struts.apache.org/release/2.3.x/docs/s2-016.html
- http://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20131023-struts2
- http://www.fujitsu.com/global/support/software/security/products-f/interstage-bpm-analytics-201301e.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2014-1972949.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujul2015-2367936.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20, CWE-74- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.struts:struts2-core- Disclosed
- 13.05.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-47qp-8v9g-39hp - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.struts:struts2-core
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 60
- First → latest
- 10.2018 01.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 6
Severity breakdown
- Critical 14
- High 25
- Medium 20
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 6
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 45
- 2023: 4
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 1
-
Code injection in Apache Struts this entry
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