How severe is CVE-2012-0838?

No CVSS score has been assigned to CVE-2012-0838 yet. Review the advisory details and affected package list to assess your exposure.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2012-0838?

CVE-2012-0838 affects the following packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven), org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core (Maven). Ecosystems affected: Maven.

How do I fix CVE-2012-0838?

Update org.apache.struts:struts2-core to 2.2.3.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2012-0838 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

How do I detect CVE-2012-0838 in my Maven dependencies?

Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.struts:struts2-core, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.

How do I mitigate CVE-2012-0838 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?

If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

How does O3 Security protect against CVE-2012-0838?

O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2012-0838 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.

Is CVE-2012-0838 actively exploited in the wild?

No public exploit code has been indexed for CVE-2012-0838 yet. This does not mean the vulnerability cannot be exploited — absence of public exploits does not imply safety. Apply the recommended fix and use O3 Security to monitor your exposure.

What is the EPSS score for CVE-2012-0838?

CVE-2012-0838 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 13.9%, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CVEs. EPSS is maintained by FIRST.org and estimates the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. This score warrants monitoring and prompt remediation.

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2012-0838?

CVE-2012-0838 is classified as Improper Input Validation (CWE-20). This weakness type describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation.

When was CVE-2012-0838 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2012-0838 was published on May 14, 2022 and was last updated on December 5, 2024. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting.

☕ Maven

Not in CISA KEV

CVE-2012-0838 — struts2-core

Fix: apache/struts@25e5006

CVE-2012-0838 is a Improper Input Validation vulnerability in org.apache.struts:struts2-core. EPSS puts its 30-day exploitation probability at 13.9% (96th percentile). A fix is available for org.apache.struts:struts2-core — see the affected versions and patch details below.

Apache Struts Code injection due to conversion error

Published

May 14, 2022

Updated

Dec 5, 2024

Affected

2 pkgs

Patched

2 / 2

Exploits

None indexed

Exploitation data as of Sep 17, 2026 · OSV.dev, NVD, FIRST.org (EPSS)

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗

13.9%probability of exploitation in next 30 days

Moderate Risk0.00%

Lower risk than most CVEs96th percentile — riskier than 96% of all scored CVEsHighest risk

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.

Real-World Exposure

2 pkgs affected

☕org.apache.struts:struts2-core☕org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core

Real-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.

Description

Apache Struts 2 before 2.2.3.1 evaluates a string as an OGNL expression during the handling of a conversion error, which allows remote attackers to modify run-time data values, and consequently execute arbitrary code, via invalid input to a field.

Affected Packages

2 total 2 fixed

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
☕Maven	`org.apache.struts:struts2-core`	all versions	2.2.3.1`org.apache.struts:struts2-core:2.2.3.1`
☕Maven	`org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core`	all versions	2.2.3.1`org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core:2.2.3.1`

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency

Detect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.struts:struts2-core, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.apache.struts:struts2-core to 2.2.3.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2012-0838 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2012-0838 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.

Tailored to CVE-2012-0838. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.

Frequently Asked Questions

O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

Is CVE-2012-0838 in your dependencies?

O3 Security finds CVE-2012-0838 across Maven dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.

Scan my dependencies How O3 SCA works