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Fencer Intel
critical 9.8

CVE-2013-2251 kev in the critical feed json

Code injection in Apache Struts

published 13y ago modified 4mo ago also GHSA-47qp-8v9g-39hp , EUVD-2022-2328

cvss
9.8
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Exploited
added 2022-03-25
epss
100.0%
EPSS 100.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.9%
public exploits
3
Metasploit and Exploit-DB, plus a Nuclei check

Summary

Apache Struts 2.0.0 through 2.3.15 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OGNL expressions via a parameter with a crafted (1) action:, (2) redirect:, or (3) redirectAction: prefix.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  • maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.15.1
  • apache archiva 1.3.8

Is CVE-2013-2251 in your dependencies? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.

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Timeline

  1. First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/multi/http/struts_default_action_mapper)
  2. Published
  3. Added to CISA KEV
  4. CISA patch deadline
  5. CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added
4y ago
Patch by
2022-04-15 (4y ago)
Ransomware
Not known
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product
Apache, Struts
CISA name
Apache Struts Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable
yes
Technical impact
total
Assessed
last yr.

Exploit prediction

100.00% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

Exploits and checks

  • Metasploit exploit/multi/http/struts_default_action_mapper Apache Struts 2 DefaultActionMapper Prefixes OGNL Code Execution metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2013-07-02
  • EDB-44583 Apache Struts2 2.0.0 < 2.3.15 - Prefixed Parameters OGNL Injection webapps, 2014-01-14
  • EDB-27135 Apache Struts 2 - DefaultActionMapper Prefixes OGNL Code Execution (Metasploit) remote, 2013-07-27
  • Nuclei template Apache Struts 2 - DefaultActionMapper Prefixes OGNL Code Execution nuclei detection template
  • seclists.org http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2013/Oct/96 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
  • cxsecurity.com http://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2014010087 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
  • packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159629/Apache-Struts-2-Remote-Code-Execution.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CISA ADP 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD 2.0 9.3 AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
GitHub 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H

Affected packages

ecosystem package affected fixed in
maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core
<2.3.15.1
2.3.15.1

Classification

Weakness
  • CWE-74 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component
  • CWE-20 Improper Input Validation

References

Sources

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.