CVE-2008-6682 in Struts
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Apache Struts 2.0.x before 2.0.11.1 and 2.1.x before 2.1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors associated with improper handling of (1) " (double quote) characters in the href attribute of an s:a tag and (2) parameters in the action attribute of an s:url tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The CVE-2008-6682 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Apache Struts versions 2.0.x prior to 2.0.11.1 and 2.1.x prior to 2.1.1. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of special characters in specific Struts tags, creating exploitable injection points within web applications that utilize the framework. The flaw manifests in two distinct vectors that collectively weaken the application's input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices.
The technical exploitation occurs through manipulation of the href attribute within the s:a tag and parameters within the action attribute of the s:url tag. When these attributes contain unescaped double quote characters, the framework fails to properly sanitize the input before rendering it in the web response. This improper handling creates XSS opportunities where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the Struts tag library implementation where user-supplied input flows directly into HTML attributes without adequate sanitization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications deployed using Apache Struts 2.0.x and 2.1.x versions. Attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser context. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as these vulnerabilities can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the affected applications. The vulnerability affects the core framework functionality rather than specific application code, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise multiple applications simultaneously.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, representing the initial access phase through spearphishing attachments or links that could leverage this XSS vulnerability. Organizations using affected Struts versions face elevated risk of successful exploitation, particularly in environments where user input is not properly validated or where applications lack robust output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web frameworks, as the issue originates from the framework's core handling of HTML attribute rendering rather than application-level coding errors.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Struts versions to 2.0.11.1 or 2.1.1 respectively, ensuring all applications are updated to versions that properly handle special character escaping in tag attributes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including application-level filtering, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security testing of web applications. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the security improvements that address the XSS vulnerability.