CVE-2012-0391

Apache Struts 2: Improper Input Validation

As of , CVE-2012-0391 in Apache Struts 2 is on CISA's list of exploited vulnerabilities: CISA listed it on . Our patch-first group: Patch this week.

Exploited
Yes: CISA listed it on 21 January 2022
US federal deadline
21 July 2022181 days after CISA listed it. US federal civilian agencies must fix it by then.
Used in ransomware campaigns
Not known to CISA
EPSS score
0.76Higher than 99% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
EPSS when listed
Not availableCISA listed it before 4 February 2022, where the EPSS files we read begin.
Public exploit
1 Metasploit module and 2 Exploit-DB entries (2 verified)
Fix
No vendor link in CISA's entry

What CISA says to do

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA's required action

What the flaw is

The ExceptionDelegator component in Apache Struts 2 before 2.2.3.1 contains an improper input validation vulnerability that allows for remote code execution.

CISA's description

The ExceptionDelegator component in Apache Struts before 2.2.3.1 interprets parameter values as OGNL expressions during certain exception handling for mismatched data types of properties, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via a crafted parameter.

The CVE record's description, from mitre

CVE published
8 January 2012
Assigned by
mitre
CVSS
9.8 Critical (CVSS 3.1, from CISA-ADP)
CWE-94
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
CWE-20
Improper Input Validation
CISA SSVC, exploitation
active
CISA SSVC, automatable
yes
CISA SSVC, technical impact
total

Timeline

  1. Exploit-DB published an exploit (EDB-ID 18329).
  2. The CVE record was published.
  3. Exploit-DB published an exploit (EDB-ID 18984).
  4. CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
  5. The US federal deadline to fix it.

Public exploits

Facts from Metasploit's module list and Exploit-DB's index; we never copy exploit code.

Read further