What is CVE-2017-5638?
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.
The record classifies CVE-2017-5638 under weakness class CWE-755. Its CVSS v3 base vector states that the flaw is reachable remotely over the network, needs no prior authentication, needs no user interaction, and has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability. 1 affected-product entry is recorded, across 1 vendor, listed below. The identifier was first published 3496 days ago.
Severity and exploitation probability
- CVSS v3.1 base score
- 9.8 — CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - EPSS (FIRST)
- 99.9% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs
- CISA KEV
- Listed since 2021-11-03, federal remediation deadline 2022-05-03 — used in known ransomware campaigns
- Threadlinqs priority
- 10/10 — CISA lists it as used in ransomware, which Threadlinqs scores at the maximum
- Published
- 2017-03-11, last modified 2025-10-21
Is CVE-2017-5638 being exploited?
CISA added CVE-2017-5638 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03, which means the agency holds evidence of exploitation in the wild; US federal civilian agencies had to remediate it by 2022-05-03 under BOD 22-01. CISA flags the vulnerability as one used in known ransomware campaigns. Weaponised exploit code for CVE-2017-5638 is publicly available. 11 public proof-of-concept repositories are tracked for this identifier. A ProjectDiscovery Nuclei detection template exists (http/cves/2017/CVE-2017-5638.yaml). It currently carries a trending score of 45 in the Threadlinqs vulnerability feed.
- mazen160/struts-pwn (github)
- Flyteas/Struts2-045-Exp (github)
- immunio/apache-struts2-CVE-2017-5638 (github)
- jas502n/S2-045-EXP-POC-TOOLS (github)
- PolarisLab/S2-045 (github)
- xsscx/cve-2017-5638 (github)
- jas502n/st2-046-poc (github)
- ret2jazzy/Struts-Apache-ExploitPack (github)
Affected products and versions
- Apache Software Foundation: Apache Struts
Affected software packages:
maven:org.apache.struts:struts2-core— patched in 2.3.32maven:org.apache.struts:struts2-core— patched in 2.5.10.1
How to fix CVE-2017-5638
The record marks a vendor fix as available for CVE-2017-5638. Fixed versions are recorded for 2 packages: maven:org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.32, maven:org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.5.10.1. Patch reference: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html. Vendor advisory: https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-045. Because CVE-2017-5638 is KEV-listed, US federal civilian agencies were required to apply the vendor fix, or stop using the product, by 2022-05-03. Apply the vendor fix referenced above to every affected product listed in this record, then confirm the running version against the vendor advisory.
Threat activity tracking CVE-2017-5638
1 tracked threat in the Threadlinqs corpus references CVE-2017-5638, either in the campaign’s CVE list or as an indicator on the campaign record.
Sources
Enriched from CVE.org, NVD, FIRST EPSS, CISA KEV, GitHub Security Advisories, public proof-of-concept repositories, ProjectDiscovery Nuclei. Last verified by Threadlinqs on . This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.
Vendor advisory and patch
Exploit and proof of concept
Third-party advisory
Vulnerability database entry
Other references
Showing 14 of 20 recorded references.