How severe is CVE-2012-1592?

CVE-2012-1592 has a CVSS score of 8.8/10, rated HIGH. Immediate patching is strongly recommended.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2012-1592?

CVE-2012-1592 affects the following packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven). Ecosystems affected: Maven.

How do I fix CVE-2012-1592?

Update org.apache.struts:struts2-core to 2.5.22 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2012-1592 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

How do I detect CVE-2012-1592 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-2012-1592 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?

Treat uploaded files as untrusted until proven otherwise: validate the actual content type rather than the supplied extension, store uploads outside the web root on a volume mounted without execute permission, and rename them to server-generated identifiers so an attacker cannot choose the path a request will later resolve.

Is CVE-2012-1592 actively exploited in the wild?

Yes. There are 1 known exploit references for CVE-2012-1592, including 1 documented proof-of-concept exploit on Exploit-DB. Treat this as actively exploitable and prioritize patching immediately. All exploit code should only be run in an isolated sandbox environment for research or authorized testing — never against production systems without explicit written authorization.

What is the EPSS score for CVE-2012-1592?

CVE-2012-1592 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 28.5%, placing it in the 98th 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-2012-1592?

CVE-2012-1592 is classified as Unrestricted File Upload (CWE-434). This weakness type describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation.

When was CVE-2012-1592 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2012-1592 was published on April 23, 2022 and was last updated on November 8, 2023. 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

HIGH severity

CVE-2012-1592 — struts2-core

HIGH

CVE-2012-1592 is a high-severity (CVSS 8.8) Unrestricted File Upload vulnerability in org.apache.struts:struts2-core. 1 public exploit or proof-of-concept reference is indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.apache.struts:struts2-core — see the affected versions and patch details below.

Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type in Apache Struts2

Published

Apr 23, 2022

Updated

Nov 8, 2023

Affected

1 pkg

Patched

1 / 1

Exploits

1 known

Exploitation data as of Nov 9, 2026 · OSV.dev, NVD, FIRST.org (EPSS)

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗

28.5%probability of exploitation in next 30 days

Moderate Risk0.00%

Lower risk than most CVEs98th percentile — riskier than 98% of all scored CVEsHighest risk

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.

How urgent is this, really

Where this sits among everything scored

Real-World Exposure

1 pkg affected

☕org.apache.struts:struts2-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

A local code execution issue exists in Apache Struts2 when processing malformed XSLT files, which could let a malicious user upload and execute arbitrary files. A patch exists as of version 2.5.22.

Affected Packages

1 total 1 fixed

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
☕Maven	`org.apache.struts:struts2-core`	≥ 2.0&&< 2.5.22	2.5.22`org.apache.struts:struts2-core:2.5.22`

Affected Products

1 product · 1 configurations

Application

strutsapache

1 version

2.0.0

Exploits & PoCs

Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.

EDB-37009webappsjava✓ Verified

Apache Struts 2.0 - 'XSLTResult.java' Arbitrary File Upload

by voidloafer · Mar 23, 2012

Exploit-DB Source

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 2.5.22 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2012-1592 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
Treat uploaded files as untrusted until proven otherwise: validate the actual content type rather than the supplied extension, store uploads outside the web root on a volume mounted without execute permission, and rename them to server-generated identifiers so an attacker cannot choose the path a request will later resolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

A local code execution issue exists in Apache Struts2 when processing malformed XSLT files, which could let a malicious user upload and execute arbitrary files. A patch exists as of version 2.5.22.

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