GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 — struts2-core
HIGHGHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 is a high-severity (CVSS 8.1) XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in org.apache.struts:struts2-core. EPSS puts its 30-day exploitation probability at 45.8% (99th percentile). A fix is available for org.apache.struts:struts2-core — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Apache Struts 2 is Missing XML Validation
Exploitation Status
No confirmed exploitation observed yet
- CISA’s own triage has not observed active exploitation or public proof-of-concept code for this CVE as of its last assessment.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
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.
How urgent is this, really
GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 plotted by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). The shaded corner — EPSS 50%+ and CVSS 7.0+ — is where this CVE doesn't sit, though severity or exploitability alone can still warrant action.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 379,145 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the 10–50% band (highlighted). Real counts from FIRST.org, not a sample — log-scaled since the landscape is heavily right-skewed.
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.struts:struts2-core☕org.apache.struts:struts2-core☕org.apache.struts:struts2-core☕com.opensymphony:xwork☕org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-coreReal-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
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.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | ≥ 2.0.0 | No fix |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | ≥ 2.5.0 | No fix |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.struts:struts2-core | ≥ 6.0.0&&< 6.1.1 | 6.1.1org.apache.struts:struts2-core:6.1.1 |
| ☕Maven | com.opensymphony:xwork | ≥ 2.0.0 | No fix |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.struts.xwork:xwork-core | ≥ 2.2.1 | No fix |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
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
No patched version of org.apache.struts:struts2-core has shipped for GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 yet. Where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range, and apply any maintainer-recommended mitigation.
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 GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
How to detect GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7
A community-maintained Nuclei template exists for this CVE. You can scan for it directly:
nuclei -id ghsa-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 -u https://target- Template
- Apache Struts XWork - XML External Entity Injection
- Severity
- high
- Impact
- Attackers can disclose sensitive files or cause denial of service by exploiting XML processing.
- Remediation
- Upgrade to version 6.1.1.
Template by ProjectDiscovery nuclei-templates (pussycat0x), MIT licensed. View the full template. Scan only systems you are authorised to test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds GHSA-qcfc-hmrc-59x7 across Maven dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.