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Apache Struts vulnerable to remote command execution (RCE) due to improper input validation

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Oct 18, 2018 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Oct 22, 2025

Package

maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven)

Affected versions

>= 2.0.4, <= 2.3.34
>= 2.5, <= 2.5.16

Patched versions

2.3.35
2.5.17

Description

Apache Struts contains a Remote Code Execution when using results with no namespace and it's upper actions have no or wildcard namespace. The same flaw exists when using a url tag with no value, action set, and it's upper actions have no or wildcard namespace.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Aug 22, 2018
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Oct 18, 2018
Reviewed Jun 16, 2020
Last updated Oct 22, 2025

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(100th percentile)

Weaknesses

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. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2018-11776

GHSA ID

GHSA-cr6j-3jp9-rw65

Source code

Credits

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