GHSA-gg9m-fj3v-r58c CVE-2017-9805
REST Plugin in Apache Struts uses an XStreamHandler with an instance of XStream for deserialization without any type filtering
High
Known exploited
Maven
- Severity
- 8.1 / 10
- High · CVSS 3.0
- Exploit chance (EPSS)
- 99.40%
- Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 99.94% of scored vulnerabilities.
- Known exploited
- Yes
- In CISA's catalog since Nov 3, 2021
- Weakness
- CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data
- Fix
2.5.13- Upgrade org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin to this version or later
Exploited in the wild. Apache Struts Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability (Apache Struts). Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Due for U.S. federal agencies by May 3, 2022.
Description
The 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 XStream for deserialization without any type filtering, which can lead to Remote Code Execution when deserializing XML payloads.
Affected versions
Maven
| Package | Vulnerable | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin | >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.13 |
2.5.13 |
| org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin | >= 2.1.1, < 2.3.34 |
2.3.34 |
| org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin | >= 2.1.1, < 2.3.34 |
2.3.34 |
| org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin | >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.13 |
2.5.13 |
How to fix
Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.
org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin Maven → 2.5.13
- maven
<dependency><groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId><artifactId>struts2-rest-plugin</artifactId><version>2.5.13</version></dependency>- gradle
implementation("org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin:2.5.13")
Severity breakdown
CVSS 3.0 8.1
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- High
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
- Exploit maturity
- H
Weakness
CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.
How to prevent it
- Architecture and Design, Implementation: If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
- Implementation: When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.
- Implementation: Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.
- Architecture and Design, Implementation: Make fields transient to protect them from deserialization. An attempt to serialize and then deserialize a class containing transient fields will result in NULLs where the transient data should be. This is an excellent way to prevent time, environment-based, or sensitive variables from being carried over and used improperly.
- Implementation: Avoid having unnecessary types or gadgets (a sequence of instances and method invocations that can self-execute during the deserialization process, often found in libraries) available that can be leveraged for malicious ends. This limits the potential for unintended or unauthorized types and gadgets to be leveraged by the attacker. Add only acceptable classes to an allowlist. Note: new gadgets are constantly being discovered, so this alone is not a sufficient mitigation.
- Architecture and Design, Implementation: Employ cryptography of the data or code for protection. However, it's important to note that it would still be client-side security. This is risky because if the client is compromised then the security implemented on the client (the cryptography) can be bypassed.
- Operation: Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth [REF-1481].
References
Advisories
Fixes and patches
Packages
Other links
- blogs.apache.org/foundation/entry/apache-struts-statement-on-equifax
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi
- cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-052
- lgtm.com/blog/apache_struts_CVE-2017-9805
- struts.apache.org/docs/s2-052.html
- tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170907-struts2
- kb.cert.org/vuls/id/112992
- oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2017-9805-3889403.html
- web.archive.org/web/20170909031344/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100609
- web.archive.org/web/20170922053119/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039263
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170907-0001
- exploit-db.com/exploits/42627
- securityfocus.com/bid/100609
- securitytracker.com/id/1039263
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
Timeline
- Published
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- Remediation due for U.S. federal agencies
- Last updated by the source
- Latest EPSS score
Related advisories
| Advisory | Severity | Why it's related |
|---|---|---|
| GHSA-j7h6-xr7g-m2c5 Code injection in Apache Struts | High | Also affects org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin |
| GHSA-4prj-vw9j-v6pr Arbitrary code execution in Apache Struts 2 | Critical | Also affects org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin |
| CVE-2026-110879 jackson-databind validates the outer class of a class-name type ID but accepts attacker-selected classes inside its generic arguments, even when those classes… | Critical | Same weakness, CWE-502 |
| GHSA-6757-hggm-hp2w vLLM: Public multimodal SHM handle forgery reaches worker-side `pickle.loads()` with insecure serialization disabled | High | Same weakness, CWE-502 |
| GHSA-673q-mjm6-r5xr Next.js: Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution in `use cache` functions returning typed arrays | Critical | Same weakness, CWE-502 |
| GHSA-c27m-942f-rcfh Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-87697 - .NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability | High | Same weakness, CWE-502 |
| GHSA-4w5f-7jp2-w48g Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-83520 - .NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability | High | Same weakness, CWE-502 |
| GHSA-4j9v-h7pp-725h Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-70035 - .NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability | High | Same weakness, CWE-502 |
Credits: sunSUNQ
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