Apache Struts 2 is Missing XML Validation

Description

Missing XML Validation vulnerability in Apache Struts, Apache Struts.

This issue affects Apache Struts: from 2.0.0 before 2.2.1; Apache Struts: from 2.2.1 through 6.1.0.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 6.1.1, which fixes the issue.

Basic information

Type
reviewed
Severity
high
Advisory on GitHub
Open advisory ↗
Repository advisory
Source code
Browse source ↗
Published (advisory)
2026-01-11 15:31:59 UTC
Updated
2026-01-16 19:10:47 UTC
GitHub reviewed
2026-01-13 21:49:00 UTC
NVD published
2026-01-11

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.03% 7.60%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
8.1 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:R)
A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

Identifiers

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-112 Missing XML Validation
CWE-611 Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference

Affected packages (5)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem Package Vulnerable range First patched Vulnerable functions
maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core >= 2.0.0, <= 2.3.37
maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core >= 2.5.0, <= 2.5.33
maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core >= 6.0.0, < 6.1.1 6.1.1
maven com.opensymphony:xwork >= 2.0.0, < 2.2.1
maven org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core >= 2.2.1, < 6.1.1

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence