CVEs / CVE-2018-11776

CVE-2018-11776: Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

• Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 3 Nov 2021
• high 8.1 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
• EPSS 99.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
• Last changed at its sources 24 Oct 2026

Summary

Apache Struts contains a vulnerability that allows for remote code execution under two circumstances. One, where the alwaysSelectFullNamespace option is true and the value isn't set for a result defined in underlying configurations and in same time, its upper package configuration have no or wildcard namespace. Or, using URL tag which doesn't have value and action set and in same time, its upper package configuration have no or wildcard namespace.

Description

Apache Struts versions 2.3 to 2.3.34 and 2.5 to 2.5.16 suffer from possible Remote Code Execution when alwaysSelectFullNamespace is true (either by user or a plugin like Convention Plugin) and then: results are used with no namespace and in same time, its upper package have no or wildcard namespace and similar to results, same possibility when using url tag which doesn't have value and action set and in same time, its upper package have no or wildcard namespace.

Affected and fixed versions

Package versions from GHSA-cr6j-3jp9-rw65.

Exploitation

Severity

References

• CVE-2018-11776 on NVD
• CVE-2018-11776 in the CISA KEV catalog
• CVE-2018-11776 on OSV
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172830/Apache-Struts-Remote-Code-Execution.html Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2018-005.txt Broken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2018-11776-5072787.html Patch, Third Party Advisory
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html Patch, Third Party Advisory
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105125 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041547 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041888 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-057 Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hook-s3c/CVE-2018-11776-Python-PoC Exploit, Third Party Advisory
• https://lgtm.com/blog/apache_struts_CVE-2018-11776 Exploit, Third Party Advisory
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E Mailing List
• https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2018-0012 Third Party Advisory
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180822-0001/ Third Party Advisory
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20181018-0002/ Third Party Advisory
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45260/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45262/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45367/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html Third Party Advisory
• https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html Patch, Third Party Advisory
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-11776 US Government Resource