How severe is CVE-2016-3081?

CVE-2016-3081 has a CVSS score of 8.1/10, rated HIGH. Immediate patching is strongly recommended.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2016-3081?

CVE-2016-3081 affects the following packages: org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven), org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven), org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven). Ecosystems affected: Maven.

How do I fix CVE-2016-3081?

Update org.apache.struts:struts2-core to version 2.3.20.3 or later. Run your dependency manager's update command and verify no transitive dependencies pin the vulnerable version. Use O3 Security's SCA scanner to confirm the fix is applied across your entire dependency tree.

Is CVE-2016-3081 actively exploited in the wild?

Yes. There are 3 known exploit references for CVE-2016-3081, including 1 documented proof-of-concept exploit on Exploit-DB and 2 in-the-wild exploitations observed on GitHub and other sources. 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-2016-3081?

CVE-2016-3081 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 94.2%, placing it in the 100th 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. A score above 50% indicates significantly elevated exploitation risk — immediate patching is strongly recommended.

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2016-3081?

CVE-2016-3081 is classified as CWE-77 (CWE-77). This weakness type describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation.

Is there exploit tooling available for CVE-2016-3081?

A Nuclei detection template exists for CVE-2016-3081, meaning automated scanners can fingerprint it. Public exploit tooling significantly increases real-world risk — prioritize patching and ensure detection coverage. Exploit tooling should only ever be used in isolated, authorized testing environments.

When was CVE-2016-3081 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2016-3081 was published on April 26, 2016 and was last updated on April 10, 2026. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting.

☕ Maven

CVE-2016-3081

HIGH

Apache Struts RCE Vulnerability

Also known asGHSA-8c6j-ffmf-q6vm

Published

Apr 26, 2016

Updated

Apr 10, 2026

Affected

3 pkgs

Patched

3 / 3

Exploits

3 known

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗

94.2%probability of exploitation in next 30 days

Very High Risk100th percentile+0.23%

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.

Blast Radius

3 pkgs affected

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

Apache Struts 2.3.19 to 2.3.20.2, 2.3.21 to 2.3.24.1, and 2.3.25 to 2.3.28, when Dynamic Method Invocation is enabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via method: prefix, related to chained expressions.

Affected Packages

3 total 3 fixed

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
☕Maven	`org.apache.struts:struts2-core`	≥ 2.3.19&&< 2.3.20.3	2.3.20.3
☕Maven	`org.apache.struts:struts2-core`	≥ 2.3.21&&< 2.3.24.3	2.3.24.3
☕Maven	`org.apache.struts:struts2-core`	≥ 2.3.25&&< 2.3.28.1	2.3.28.1

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-39756remotelinux✓ Verified

Apache Struts - Dynamic Method Invocation Remote Code Execution (Metasploit)

by Metasploit · May 2, 2016

Exploit-DB Source

Frequently Asked Questions

O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

Is CVE-2016-3081 in your stack?

O3 detects CVE-2016-3081 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.

Scan my stack How O3 SCA works

CVSS Score

8.1/10

CVSS v3 base score

Vector breakdown

AV:Attack Vector

Network

AC:Attack Complexity

High

PR:Privileges Required

None

UI:User Interaction