# CVE-2017-5638: Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> CVE-2017-5638: Apache Struts Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. CVSS 9.8 (CVSS 3.1), in CISA KEV.

Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2017-5638
Last updated: 2025-10-21T23:55:46Z

- Published: 2017-03-11 02:11 UTC · Updated: 2025-10-21 23:55 UTC · Assigner: apache
- CVSS: 9.8 (CVSS 3.1) · Severity: Critical · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS: 100.0%, 100th percentile (scored 2026-10-25)
- CISA KEV: yes, added 2021-11-03, federal due date 2022-05-03, ransomware use: Known

## Description

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.

## CISA required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

## Affected vendors and products

- Apache Software Foundation: Apache Struts

## References

- [CVE record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5638)
- [NVD entry](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5638)
- [http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.html](http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.html)
- [http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/cve-2017-5638-apache-struts-vulnerability-remote-code-execution/](http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/cve-2017-5638-apache-struts-vulnerability-remote-code-execution/)
- [https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites/](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/S2-045)
- [https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046](https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046)
- [https://exploit-db.com/exploits/41570](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%253Ba=commit%253Bh=352306493971e7d5a756d61780d57a76eb1f519a)
- [https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228](https://git1-us-west.apache.org/repos/asf?p=struts.git%253Ba=commit%253Bh=6b8272ce47160036ed120a48345d9aa884477228)
- [https://github.com/mazen160/struts-pwn](https://github.com/mazen160/struts-pwn)
- [https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/issues/8064](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-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-hpesbgn03749en_us)
- [https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en\_US&docId=emr\_na-hpesbhf03723en\_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://isc.sans.edu/diary/22169)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7%2540%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6d03e45b81eab03580cf7f8bb51cb3e9a1b10a2cc0c6a2d3cc92ed0c%2540%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90890afea72a9571d666820b2fe5942a0a5f86be406fa31da3dd0922%2540%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E)
- [https://nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.html](https://nmap.org/nsedoc/scripts/http-vuln-cve2017-5638.html)
- [https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txt](https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141494/S2-45-poc.py.txt)
- [https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170310-0001/](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170310-0001/)
- [https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.html](https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-045.html)
- [https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.html](https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-046.html)
- [https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product\_security/len-14200](https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/len-14200)
- [https://twitter.com/theog150/status/841146956135124993](https://twitter.com/theog150/status/841146956135124993)
- [https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41614/](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.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.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/834067)
- [https://www.symantec.com/security-center/network-protection-security-advisories/SA145](https://www.symantec.com/security-center/network-protection-security-advisories/SA145)
- [http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-002.txt](http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-002.txt)
- [http://www.eweek.com/security/apache-struts-vulnerability-under-attack.html](http://www.eweek.com/security/apache-struts-vulnerability-under-attack.html)
- [http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729)
- [http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973)

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_Sources: CVE records from the CVE Program (cve.org). CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. (https://www.cve.org/) This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. (https://nvd.nist.gov/) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog from CISA. (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) EPSS scores from FIRST (Exploit Prediction Scoring System). (https://www.first.org/epss/)_


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Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2017-5638 · Markdown: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2017-5638.md · JSON: https://rewindex.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2017-5638 · Data licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Generated 2026-10-26T02:49:27.112Z