CVE-2016-8738 json
Apache Struts vulnerable to possible DoS attack when using URLValidator
published 2017-09-20 9 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also GHSA-86vq-8qhc-5rqw , EUVD-2022-3130
- cvss
- 5.9
- version 3.0, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 3.3%
- EPSS 3.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 88%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
In Apache Struts 2.5 through 2.5.5, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and the built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
Patch / fix
- maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.5.13
- github.com/apache/struts@554b9dd commit
- struts.apache.org/docs/s2-044.html advisory
Exploit prediction
3.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 88% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVD | 3.0 | 5.9 | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 4.3 | AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P |
| GitHub | 3.0 | 5.9 | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| maven | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | >=2.5.0, <2.5.13 |
2.5.13 |
Affected products
- Apache Software Foundation Apache Struts
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
References
-
struts.apache.org
/docs/s2-044.html
web, mitigation, patch, vendor-advisory
-
github.com
/apache/struts/commit/554b9dddb0fbd1e581ef577dd62a7c22955ad0f6
web
- security.netapp.com /advisory/ntap-20180629-0003/
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/94657
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8738
advisory
-
github.com
/apache/struts
package
-
security.netapp.com
/advisory/ntap-20180629-0003
web
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2016-8738
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-86vq-8qhc-5rqw
- NVD CVE-2016-8738
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.