CVE-2017-5638: Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
The Jakarta Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2 2.3.x before 2.3.32 and 2.5.x before 2.5.10.1 has incorrect exception handling and error-message generation during file-upload attempts, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or Content-Length HTTP header, as exploited in the wild in March 2017 with a Content-Type header containing a #cmd= string.
Published Mar 11, 2017 · Updated Jun 17, 2026
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Advisory details
From the National Vulnerability Database. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.
The Jakarta Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2 2.3.x before 2.3.32 and 2.5.x before 2.5.10.1 has incorrect exception handling and error-message generation during file-upload attempts, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or Content-Length HTTP header, as exploited in the wild in March 2017 with a Content-Type header containing a #cmd= string.
References
- https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites/
- https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-045
- https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046
- https://exploit-db.com/exploits/41570
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a
- https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228
- https://github.com/mazen160/struts-pwn
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/issues/8064
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03733en_us
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03749en_us
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03723en_us
- https://isc.sans.edu/diary/22169
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.html
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txt
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170310-0001/
- https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.html
- https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.html
- https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/len-14200
- https://twitter.com/theog150/status/841146956135124993
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41614/
- https://www.imperva.com/blog/2017/03/cve-2017-5638-new-remote-code-execution-rce-vulnerability-in-apache-struts-2/
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/834067
- https://www.symantec.com/security-center/network-protection-security-advisories/SA145
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-5638
How this page is made: the data panel comes from the GitHub Advisory Database, CISA’s KEV catalog, the NVD and FIRST EPSS, and updates twice a day. No analysis has been written for this entry yet. Methodology
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