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Struts CVE-2020-17530

CRITICAL
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement (CWE-917)
2020-12-11 security@apache.org
RCE Apache Oracle Business Intelligence Hospitality Opera 5 Struts Financial Services Data Integration Hub Mysql Enterprise Monitor Communications Policy Management Communications Pricing Design Center Communications Diameter Intelligence Hub
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-917
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Expression language sanitization
Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the critical-severity affected system.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: In CISA KEV with patch available.
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) Patch available 95.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affected Packages

maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core fix: 2.5.26

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in maven

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-917. Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution. Affected software : Apache Struts 2.0.0 - Struts 2.5.25. Affected products include: Apache Struts, Oracle Business Intelligence, Oracle Communications Diameter Intelligence Hub, Oracle Communications Policy Management, Oracle Communications Pricing Design Center.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Added to CISA KEV
Jul 14, 2026 - 04:22 CISA
CVE Published
Dec 11, 2020 - 02:15 nvd
CRITICAL 9.8

DescriptionNVD

Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution. Affected software : Apache Struts 2.0.0 - Struts 2.5.25.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
95.9%
Top 0% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium
NVD CVE.org CISA KEV EPSS POC (2) GitHub Metasploit

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV Yes
Public POC Yes
EPSS 95.9%
Patch available Yes
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
In CISA KEV with patch available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Immediate
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

230
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: +50
EPSS: +96
CVSS: +49
PoC: +20
Weaponized: +15
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Remote Code Execution CRITICAL

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:apache:struts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:business_intelligence:12.2.1.3.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:business_intelligence:12.2.1.4.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_diameter_intelligence_hub:8.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_diameter_intelligence_hub:8.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_diameter_intelligence_hub:8.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_diameter_intelligence_hub:8.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_policy_management:12.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_pricing_design_center:12.0.0.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_data_integration_hub:8.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_data_integration_hub:8.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:hospitality_opera_5:5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql_enterprise_monitor:8.0.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Same weakness CWE-917 – Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement

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References

Advisories & patches
PATCH https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210115-0005/ PATCH https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html PATCH https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html PATCH https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html PATCH https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html PATCH https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html ADVISORY https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-061 REF http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN43969166/index.html REF http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160721/Apache-Struts-2-Forced-Multi-OGNL-Evaluation.html REF http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6 REF https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-17530 REF https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html

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