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CVE-2017-5638

99
FAUCET Score

CVE-2017-5638 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the Jakarta Multipart parser of Apache Struts 2 (versions 2.3.x before 2.3.32 and 2.5.x before 2.5.10.1), affecting numerous products from vendors like Oracle, IBM, and HP. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands by crafting malicious HTTP headers during file upload attempts. With a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) and a FAUCET Risk Score of 100/100, it poses a severe risk due to its network-based attack vector, low complexity, and complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild, including in known ransomware campaigns, with public exploit code readily available in Metasploit and ExploitDB, and has garnered significant community and media attention.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
>= 2.2.3, < 2.3.32CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:apache:struts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.10.1CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:apache:struts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
7.7.1.6CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:storwize_v3500_firmware:7.7.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
7.8.1.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:storwize_v3500_firmware:7.8.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
7.7.1.6CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:storwize_v5000_firmware:7.7.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

9.8CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
Exploitability Score
3.9
Impact Score
5.9
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
100.00%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
100.0%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-24
Model: v2026.06.15
Added to KEV · Nov 3, 2021
Metasploit: Apache Struts Jakarta Multipart Parser OGNL Injection · Mar 7, 2017
Nuclei: CVE-2017-5638 · Aug 19, 2020
ExploitDB: EDB-41614 · Mar 15, 2017
This CVE's current EPSS score of 1.0000 is in the 100th percentile among its peer group of 36,829 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.1 Reddit, 0.3 Bluesky, 0.3 Mastodon, and 2.4 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.3 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.0 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (3)

mavenpatch availablevia ghsa
Product: org.apache.struts:struts2-coreFixed in: 2.3.32
mavenpatch availablevia ghsa
Product: org.apache.struts:struts2-coreFixed in: 2.5.10.1
oraclepatch availablevia nvd_reference
View patch

Vendor Advisories (2)

mavenGHSA-j77q-2qqg-6989critical

Apache Struts vulnerable to remote arbitrary command execution due to improper input validation

Oct 18, 2018
redhatCVE-2017-5638Critical

struts2: RCE when performing file upload based on Jakarta Multipart parser

Mar 6, 2017

References

cisa.gov / known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
US Government Resource
blog.talosintelligence.com / 2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.html
ExploitThird Party Advisory
blog.trendmicro.com / trendlabs-security-intelligence/cve-2017-5638-apache-struts-vulnerability-remote-code-execution
ExploitThird Party Advisory
arstechnica.com / security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites
ExploitPress/Media Coverage
cwiki.apache.org / confluence/display/WW/S2-045
MitigationVendor Advisory
cwiki.apache.org / confluence/display/WW/S2-046
MitigationVendor Advisory
exploit-db.com / exploits/41570
ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
git1-us-west.apache.org / repos/asf
Broken Link
git1-us-west.apache.org / repos/asf
Broken Link
github.com / mazen160/struts-pwn
Exploit
github.com / rapid7/metasploit-framework/issues/8064
ExploitIssue Tracking
h20566.www2.hpe.com / hpsc/doc/public/display
Broken Link
h20566.www2.hpe.com / hpsc/doc/public/display
Third Party Advisory
h20566.www2.hpe.com / hpsc/doc/public/display
Third Party Advisory
isc.sans.edu / diary/22169
ExploitThird Party Advisory
lists.apache.org / thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
Mailing List
lists.apache.org / thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
Mailing List
lists.apache.org / thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
Mailing List
nmap.org / nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.html
ExploitThird Party Advisory
packetstormsecurity.com / files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txt
Broken LinkExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
security.netapp.com / advisory/ntap-20170310-0001
Third Party Advisory
struts.apache.org / docs/s2-045.html
MitigationVendor Advisory
struts.apache.org / docs/s2-046.html
MitigationVendor Advisory
support.lenovo.com / us/en/product_security/len-14200
Third Party Advisory
twitter.com / theog150/status/841146956135124993
Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
exploit-db.com / exploits/41614
ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
imperva.com / blog/2017/03/cve-2017-5638-new-remote-code-execution-rce-vulnerability-in-apache-struts-2
Third Party Advisory
kb.cert.org / vuls/id/834067
Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
symantec.com / security-center/network-protection-security-advisories/SA145
Broken Link
arubanetworks.com / assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-002.txt
Third Party Advisory
eweek.com / security/apache-struts-vulnerability-under-attack.html
Press/Media CoverageThird Party Advisory
oracle.com / technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html
PatchThird Party Advisory
securityfocus.com / bid/96729
Broken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
securitytracker.com / id/1037973
Broken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry