CVE-2011-1772 in Struts
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in XWork in Apache Struts 2.x before 2.2.3, and OpenSymphony XWork in OpenSymphony WebWork, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving (1) an action name, (2) the action attribute of an s:submit element, or (3) the method attribute of an s:submit element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1772 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the XWork framework used in Apache Struts 2.x versions prior to 2.2.3 and OpenSymphony WebWork implementations. This vulnerability resides in the way the framework processes user-supplied input through specific elements within its web application architecture, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected applications. The flaw specifically impacts the handling of action names and attributes within Struts tags, particularly the s:submit element which is commonly used in web forms and action mappings within the framework's tag library.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors that all leverage improper input sanitization within the XWork framework. Attackers can manipulate action names by injecting malicious script code directly into the action parameter that is processed by the framework's action resolution mechanism. Additionally, the s:submit element's action attribute and method attribute present similar risks when user input is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web responses. These vulnerabilities fall under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The framework's failure to adequately sanitize input data before incorporating it into dynamic web content creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users who interact with vulnerable applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1772 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When exploited successfully, these vulnerabilities can allow attackers to steal user authentication tokens, access sensitive application data, or even take complete control of user sessions. The widespread adoption of Apache Struts and WebWork frameworks means that numerous web applications across different industries could be vulnerable to this flaw, potentially affecting financial services, healthcare systems, government portals, and enterprise applications that rely on these frameworks for their web application functionality. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the framework level, meaning that a single flaw can affect multiple applications built on the same platform.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Apache Struts or WebWork should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the framework, specifically Apache Struts 2.2.3 or later, which contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additional defensive measures include implementing comprehensive input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and conducting thorough code reviews to ensure that all user-supplied input is properly escaped before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of web application vulnerabilities for initial access, and T1059 which covers the execution of malicious code through scripting languages. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom applications built on these frameworks, as the attack surface for such vulnerabilities can extend beyond the core framework components to include custom tag libraries and application-specific implementations.