CVE-2017-5638
Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 3 May 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
The 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-message generation during file-upload attempts, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or Content-Length HTTP header, as exploited in the wild in March 2017 with a Content-Type header containing a #cmd= string.
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 100.00% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 7 March 2017
- CISA KEV
- Listed 3 November 2021 · due 3 May 2022 · used in ransomware campaigns
- Weakness
- CWE-755
- Affected
- apache/struts · ibm/storwize v3500 firmware · ibm/storwize v5000 firmware · ibm/storwize v7000 firmware · lenovo/storage v5030 firmware · hp/server automation · oracle/weblogic server · arubanetworks/clearpass policy manager · netapp/oncommand balance
- Source
- security@apache.org
EPSS 100.0% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5638
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-41614source ↗ | Apache Struts 2.3.5 < 2.3.31 / 2.5 < 2.5.10 - 'Jakarta' Multipart Parser OGNL Injection (Metasploit)multiple · Metasploit | remote | 15 March 2017 | yes |
| EDB-41570source ↗ | Apache Struts 2.3.5 < 2.3.31 / 2.5 < 2.5.10 - Remote Code Executionlinux · Vex Woo | webapps | 7 March 2017 | yes |
References
- http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/cve-2017-5638-apache-struts-vulnerability-remote-code-execution/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-002.txtThird Party Advisory
- http://www.eweek.com/security/apache-struts-vulnerability-under-attack.htmlPress/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.htmlPatch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites/Exploit, Press/Media Coverage
- https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-045Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://exploit-db.com/exploits/41570Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519aBroken Link
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228Broken Link
- https://github.com/mazen160/struts-pwnExploit
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/issues/8064Exploit, Issue Tracking
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03733en_usBroken Link
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03749en_usThird Party Advisory
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03723en_usThird Party Advisory
- https://isc.sans.edu/diary/22169Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3EMailing List
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3EMailing List
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3EMailing List
- https://nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txtBroken Link, Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170310-0001/Third Party Advisory
- https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.htmlMitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.htmlMitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/len-14200Third Party Advisory
- https://twitter.com/theog150/status/841146956135124993Broken Link, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41614/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.