CVE-2013-1966 Arbitrary code execution in Apache Struts

What is CVE-2013-1966?

CVE-2013-1966 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apache Struts, published on 10 Jul 2013. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Apache Struts 2 before 2.3.14.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OGNL code via a crafted request that is not properly handled when using the includeParams attribute in the (1) URL or (2) A tag.

Weakness: CWE-94

Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-1966?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core and org.apache.struts:struts2-core. It affects 1 product.

Products include Apache Struts.

How do I fix CVE-2013-1966?

Upgrade org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core to 2.3.14.2 or later.

Upgrade, and never evaluate templates, expressions or code built from user input. More about Code injection.

Is CVE-2013-1966 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-1966 exists.

Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module and 1 Exploit-DB entry.

Other vulnerabilities in Apache Struts

• CVE-2020-17530 Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2017-9791 Apache Struts 1 Improper Input Validation Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2017-5638 Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2012-0391 Apache Struts 2 Improper Input Validation Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2018-11776 Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Exploited High 8.1

All Apache Struts vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-737w-mh58-cxjp.