CVE-2017-9805 — Apache Struts Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
The REST Plugin in Apache Struts 2.1.1 through 2.3.x before 2.3.34 and 2.5.x before 2.5.13 uses an XStreamHandler with an instance of XStream for deserialization without any type filtering, which can lead to Remote Code Execution when deserializing XML payloads.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
- Public exploit/PoC (nuclei, metasploit, exploitdb)+20
- EPSS 99.4% (30-day exploitation probability)+15
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — www.oracle.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented mitigation — cwiki.apache.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented mitigation — struts.apache.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Maven Org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin: fixed in version 2.5.13 — github.com (GitHub Security Advisories)
- Maven Org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin: fixed in version 2.3.34 — github.com (GitHub Security Advisories)
CISA required action CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal deadline: May 3, 2022 — passed 1626 day(s) ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Apache Software Foundation Struts, Cisco Digital Media Manager, Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution…).
- Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- EPSS ahead of 100% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (insecure deserialization), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Struts | ≥ 2.1.2 and < 2.3.34≥ 2.5.0 and < 2.5.13 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Apache Software Foundation | Struts | version Apache Struts before 2.3.34 and 2.5.x before 2.5.13 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Cisco | Digital Media Manager | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Cisco | Hosted Collaboration Solution | version 10.5(1)version 11.0(1)version 11.5(1)version 11.6(1) | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Cisco | Media Experience Engine | version 3.5version 3.5.2 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Cisco | Network Performance Analysis | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Cisco | Video Distribution Suite For Internet Streaming | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Netapp | Oncommand Balance | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Maven | Org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin | ≥ 2.5.0 and < 2.5.13≥ 2.1.1 and < 2.3.34 | Vulnerable | GitHub Security Advisories |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.2 | 5.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.2 | 5.9 | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | CISA-ADP via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.0 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 6.8 | CVSS 2.0 | Medium | 8.6 | 6.4 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
CISA KEV details CISA
CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.
Public exploits, PoCs and detection templates
Public code that demonstrates or tests the flaw raises the odds of mass exploitation — and Nuclei templates help find vulnerable assets in your environment.
- Apache Struts 2 REST Plugin XStream RCE excellent Sep 5, 2017
Warning: public PoCs are sometimes disguised malware. Use them only for authorized testing in an isolated environment. This portal does not host exploit code — it only points to the sources.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 99.40%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Monitor serialized objects in requests and unexpected processes spawned by the runtime.
- Hunt retroactively in logs from before Nov 3, 2021 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · maven/org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin
- Affected products added · apache software foundation/apache struts
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · apache/struts, cisco/digital media manager, cisco/hosted collaboration solution, cisco/media experience engine, cisco/ne
- CVSS changed · 8.1
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Added to CISA KEV (detected)
- Record created in this database
- 2021
- Added to CISA KEV catalog
- 2017
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
21 on the record
- struts.apache.org/docs/s2-052.html
- cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-052
- blogs.apache.org/foundation/entry/apache-struts-statement-on-equifax
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/alert-cve-2017-9805-3889403.html
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- web.archive.org/web/20170909031344/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100609
- web.archive.org/web/20170922053119/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039263
- github.com/apache/struts/commit/19494718865f2fb7da5ea363de3822f87fbda26
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1039263
- lgtm.com/blog/apache_struts_CVE-2017-9805
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9805
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-gg9m-fj3v-r58c
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/100609
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42627
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170907-0001/
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20170907-0001
- github.com/apache/struts/commit/6dd6e5cfb7b5e020abffe7e8091bd63fe97c10a
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi
- tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170907-strut
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/112992
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42627/
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-104714 Apache Struts: Shared message formatter exposes date and time values across concurrent requests 10d
- High CVE-2026-104712 Apache Struts: Disproportionate response size when rendering BigDecimal request parameters 10d
- Medium CVE-2026-104713 Apache Struts: Unbounded request body read in the REST plugin 10d
- Critical CVE-2026-104711 Apache Struts: OGNL injection in the legacy RESTful action mapper 10d
- High CVE-2025-68493 Apache Struts, Apache Struts: XXE vulnerability in outdated XWork component Jan 11, 2026
- High CVE-2025-66675 Apache Struts: File leak in multipart request processing causes disk exhaustion (DoS) - version ranges fixed Dec 10, 2025
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2017-9805 is "Apache Struts Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability", rated High. It affects Struts (Apache Software Foundation); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 8.1 describes technical severity. EPSS 99.40% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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