In Apache Struts 2.0.0 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.10.1, using an unintentional expression in a Freemarker tag instead of string lite
In Apache Struts 2.0.0 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.10.1, using an unintentional expression in a Freemarker tag instead of string literals can lead to a RCE attack.
- Published
- Sep 20, 2017
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 87.1% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-20
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Report tools
Action score
65
This week
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 26 / 30 · 87.1%
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
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We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| apache | struts | cpe:2.3:a:apache:struts |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apache struts2.0.1
- apache struts2.0.10
- apache struts2.0.11
- apache struts2.0.11.1
- apache struts2.0.11.2
- apache struts2.0.12
- apache struts2.0.13
- apache struts2.0.14
- apache struts2.0.2
- apache struts2.0.3
- apache struts2.0.4
- apache struts2.0.5
- apache struts2.0.6
- apache struts2.0.7
- apache struts2.0.8
- apache struts2.0.9
- apache struts2.1.0
- apache struts2.1.1
- apache struts2.1.2
- apache struts2.1.3
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (apache). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Apache Software Foundation Apache Struts
- 2.0.0 - 2.3.33, 2.5 - 2.5.10.1affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | from 2.0.1 · before 2.3.34 | 2.3.34 |
| Maven | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | from 2.5.0 · before 2.5.11 | 2.5.11 |
Same product
apache: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-9791The Struts 1 plugin in Apache Struts 2.1.x and 2.3.x might allow remote code execution via a malicious field value passed in a raw message tKEV99Now
- CVE-2017-5638The Jakarta Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2 2.3.x before 2.3.32 and 2.5.x before 2.5.10.1 has incorrect exception handling and error-mesKEV99Now
- CVE-2020-17530Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution.KEV98Now
- CVE-2018-11776Apache Struts versions 2.3 to 2.3.34 and 2.5 to 2.5.16 suffer from possible Remote Code Execution when alwaysSelectFullNamespace is true (eiKEV92Now
- CVE-2017-9805The REST Plugin in Apache Struts 2.1.1 through 2.3.x before 2.3.34 and 2.5.x before 2.5.13 uses an XStreamHandler with an instance of XStreaKEV92Now
- CVE-2012-0391The ExceptionDelegator component in Apache Struts before 2.2.3.1 interprets parameter values as OGNL expressions during certain exception haKEV92Now
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maven:org.apache.struts:struts2-core | 2.3.34 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.struts:struts2-core | 2.5.11 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
- Nuclei detection template ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×3
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2017-09-08 |
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2017-12611 | — |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:37 | 2017-09-08 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2025-09-15 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2025-09-24 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- First PoC-13 d
- Published
- TodaySep 30, 2026+3297 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-20 · Improper Input ValidationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Server Side Include (SSI) InjectionCAPEC-101likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Object Relational Mapping InjectionCAPEC-109likelihood: Low · High
- SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter TamperingCAPEC-110likelihood: High · Very High
- Double EncodingCAPEC-120likelihood: Low · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or InformationT1027
- Masquerading: Invalid Code SignatureT1036.001
- Steal Web Session CookieT1539
- Subvert Trust Controls: Code SigningT1553.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-003.txt
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2017-9805-3889403.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/100829
- kb.netapp.com/support/s/article/ka51A000000CgttQAC/NTAP-20170911-0001
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.