Apache Struts up to 2.0.33/2.5.10 Freemarker Tag input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Apache Struts up to 2.0.33/2.5.10. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Freemarker Tag Handler. The manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2017-12611. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Apache Struts up to 2.0.33/2.5.10 (Programming Tool Software). This issue affects an unknown functionality of the component Freemarker Tag Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In Apache Struts 2.0.1 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.10, using an unintentional expression in a Freemarker tag instead of string literals can lead to a RCE attack.

The bug was discovered 09/07/2017. The weakness was disclosed 09/20/2017 (Website). The advisory is shared at struts.apache.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2017-12611 since 08/07/2017. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as highly functional. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 102960 (Apache Struts 2.1.x >= 2.1.2 / 2.2.x / 2.3.x < 2.3.34 / 2.5.x < 2.5.13 Multiple Vulnerabilities (S2-050 - S2-053)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Misc. and running in the context c. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 87306 (Oracle WebLogic Server Samples Apache Struts Vulnerability (Doc ID 2309128.1)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (44556), Tenable (102960) and SecurityFocus (BID 100829†). The entries VDB-103401, VDB-103518, VDB-103519 and VDB-106165 are pretty similar. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.4

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Highly functional
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 102960
Nessus Name: Apache Struts 2.1.x >= 2.1.2 / 2.2.x / 2.3.x < 2.3.34 / 2.5.x < 2.5.13 Multiple Vulnerabilities (S2-050 - S2-053)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 802423
OpenVAS Name: Apache Struts CVE-2017-12611 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

D2Sec: Apache Struts 2 Freemarker Tag Handling RCE

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Suricata ID: 2024814
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/07/2017 🔍
09/05/2017 +29 days 🔍
09/05/2017 +0 days 🔍
09/07/2017 +2 days 🔍
09/07/2017 +0 days 🔍
09/20/2017 +13 days 🔍
09/20/2017 +0 days 🔍
09/20/2017 +0 days 🔍
06/24/2025 +2834 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apache.org

Advisory: struts.apache.org
Researcher: Lupin, David Greene, Roland McIntosh.
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2017-12611 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-12611
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-106877
SecurityFocus: 100829 - Apache Struts CVE-2017-12611 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 09/20/2017 23:17
Updated: 06/24/2025 03:55
Changes: 09/20/2017 23:17 (75), 11/18/2019 07:53 (8), 01/13/2021 14:29 (2), 06/24/2025 03:55 (21)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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