CVE-2021-31805 (GCVE-0-2021-31805)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2022-04-12 15:25 – Updated: 2024-08-03 23:10
VLAI Previdian
Title
Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.
Summary
The fix issued for CVE-2020-17530 was incomplete. So from Apache Struts 2.0.0 to 2.5.29, still some of the tag’s attributes could perform a double evaluation if a developer applied forced OGNL evaluation by using the %{...} syntax. Using forced OGNL evaluation on untrusted user input can lead to a Remote Code Execution and security degradation.
Severity
9.8 (Critical)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE
  • CWE-917 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
Apache Software Foundation Apache Struts Affected: 2.0.0 to 2.5.29
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Credits
Apache Struts would like to thank Chris McCown for reporting this issue!
Previdian
Known Exploited Vulnerability - GCVE BCP-07 Compliant
KEV entry ID: c2c8b36a-5c58-4d4c-9ffe-883b8202bcbb

Vulnerability ID: CVE-2021-31805

Status: Confirmed

Status Updated: 2026-06-12 00:32 UTC

Exploited: Yes

Timestamps
First Seen: 2026-06-12
Asserted: 2026-06-12
Scope
Notes: KEVIntel entry: Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE. | Affected: Apache Software Foundation / Apache Struts | CVSS: 9.8 (CRITICAL) | EPSS: 0.85101 | Used in malware: unknown | Not yet in CISA KEV: True
Evidence

Type: Public Report

Signal: Successful Exploitation

Confidence: 70%

Source: kevintel

Details
Feed KEVIntel (kevintel.com)
Title Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.
Vendor Apache Software Foundation
Product Apache Struts
Added Date 2026-06-12T00:32:51.325Z
Cvss Score 9.8
Epss Score 0.85101
Cvss Severity CRITICAL
Epss Percentile 0.99684
Used In Malware unknown
Ahead Of Cisa Kev None
Not Yet In Cisa Kev True
References
Created: 2026-06-19 12:42 UTC | Updated: 2026-06-19 12:42 UTC
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T23:10:30.193Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-062"
          },
          {
            "name": "[oss-security] 20220412 CVE-2021-31805: Apache Struts: Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.",
            "tags": [
              "mailing-list",
              "x_refsource_MLIST",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_CONFIRM",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220420-0001/"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "Apache Struts",
          "vendor": "Apache Software Foundation",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "2.0.0 to 2.5.29"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Apache Struts would like to thank Chris McCown for reporting this issue!"
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The fix issued for CVE-2020-17530 was incomplete. So from Apache Struts 2.0.0 to 2.5.29, still some of the tag\u2019s attributes could perform a double evaluation if a developer applied forced OGNL evaluation by using the %{...} syntax. Using forced OGNL evaluation on untrusted user input can lead to a Remote Code Execution and security degradation."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-917",
              "description": "CWE-917 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement (\u0027Expression Language Injection\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2022-07-25T16:27:57.000Z",
        "orgId": "f0158376-9dc2-43b6-827c-5f631a4d8d09",
        "shortName": "apache"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-062"
        },
        {
          "name": "[oss-security] 20220412 CVE-2021-31805: Apache Struts: Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.",
          "tags": [
            "mailing-list",
            "x_refsource_MLIST"
          ],
          "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220420-0001/"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.",
      "workarounds": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Avoid using forced OGNL evaluation on untrusted user input, and/or upgrade to Struts 2.5.30 which checks if expression evaluation won\u2019t lead to the double evaluation.\n\nPlease read our Security Bulletin S2-062 for more details."
        }
      ],
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "Vulnogram 0.0.9"
      },
      "x_legacyV4Record": {
        "CVE_data_meta": {
          "ASSIGNER": "security@apache.org",
          "ID": "CVE-2021-31805",
          "STATE": "PUBLIC",
          "TITLE": "Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE."
        },
        "affects": {
          "vendor": {
            "vendor_data": [
              {
                "product": {
                  "product_data": [
                    {
                      "product_name": "Apache Struts",
                      "version": {
                        "version_data": [
                          {
                            "version_value": "2.0.0 to 2.5.29"
                          }
                        ]
                      }
                    }
                  ]
                },
                "vendor_name": "Apache Software Foundation"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "credit": [
          {
            "lang": "eng",
            "value": "Apache Struts would like to thank Chris McCown for reporting this issue!"
          }
        ],
        "data_format": "MITRE",
        "data_type": "CVE",
        "data_version": "4.0",
        "description": {
          "description_data": [
            {
              "lang": "eng",
              "value": "The fix issued for CVE-2020-17530 was incomplete. So from Apache Struts 2.0.0 to 2.5.29, still some of the tag\u2019s attributes could perform a double evaluation if a developer applied forced OGNL evaluation by using the %{...} syntax. Using forced OGNL evaluation on untrusted user input can lead to a Remote Code Execution and security degradation."
            }
          ]
        },
        "generator": {
          "engine": "Vulnogram 0.0.9"
        },
        "impact": [
          {}
        ],
        "problemtype": {
          "problemtype_data": [
            {
              "description": [
                {
                  "lang": "eng",
                  "value": "CWE-917 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement (\u0027Expression Language Injection\u0027)"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        "references": {
          "reference_data": [
            {
              "name": "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-062",
              "refsource": "MISC",
              "url": "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-062"
            },
            {
              "name": "[oss-security] 20220412 CVE-2021-31805: Apache Struts: Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.",
              "refsource": "MLIST",
              "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html",
              "refsource": "MISC",
              "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220420-0001/",
              "refsource": "CONFIRM",
              "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220420-0001/"
            }
          ]
        },
        "source": {
          "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
        },
        "work_around": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "Avoid using forced OGNL evaluation on untrusted user input, and/or upgrade to Struts 2.5.30 which checks if expression evaluation won\u2019t lead to the double evaluation.\n\nPlease read our Security Bulletin S2-062 for more details."
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "f0158376-9dc2-43b6-827c-5f631a4d8d09",
    "assignerShortName": "apache",
    "cveId": "CVE-2021-31805",
    "datePublished": "2022-04-12T15:25:11.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2021-04-26T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T23:10:30.193Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2021-31805",
      "date": "2026-09-20",
      "epss": "0.85433",
      "percentile": "0.99709"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:apache:struts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "24A8DF7C-82D9-4D56-AAE7-5D1DEB1CD558",
                    "versionEndIncluding": "2.5.29",
                    "versionStartIncluding": "2.0.0",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "The fix issued for CVE-2020-17530 was incomplete. So from Apache Struts 2.0.0 to 2.5.29, still some of the tag\u2019s attributes could perform a double evaluation if a developer applied forced OGNL evaluation by using the %{...} syntax. Using forced OGNL evaluation on untrusted user input can lead to a Remote Code Execution and security degradation."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "La correcci\u00f3n emitida para CVE-2020-17530 era incompleta. As\u00ed, desde Apache Struts versiones 2.0.0 hasta 2.5.29, todav\u00eda algunos de los atributos de las etiquetas pod\u00edan llevar a cabo una doble evaluaci\u00f3n si un desarrollador aplicaba la evaluaci\u00f3n OGNL forzada usando la sintaxis %{...}. El uso de la evaluaci\u00f3n forzada de OGNL en entradas de usuario no confiables puede conllevar a una Ejecuci\u00f3n de C\u00f3digo Remota y una degradaci\u00f3n de la seguridad"
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2021-31805",
        "lastModified": "2024-11-21T06:06:15.697",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV2": [
            {
              "acInsufInfo": false,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "cvssData": {
                "accessComplexity": "LOW",
                "accessVector": "NETWORK",
                "authentication": "NONE",
                "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "baseScore": 7.5,
                "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
                "version": "2.0"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 10.0,
              "impactScore": 6.4,
              "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
              "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
              "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary",
              "userInteractionRequired": false
            }
          ],
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 9.8,
                "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
              "impactScore": 5.9,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary"
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2022-04-12T16:15:08.133",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "security@apache.org",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Mitigation",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6"
          },
          {
            "source": "security@apache.org",
            "tags": [
              "Mitigation",
              "Patch",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-062"
          },
          {
            "source": "security@apache.org",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220420-0001/"
          },
          {
            "source": "security@apache.org",
            "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Mitigation",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Mitigation",
              "Patch",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-062"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220420-0001/"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "security@apache.org",
        "vulnStatus": "Modified",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-917"
              }
            ],
            "source": "security@apache.org",
            "type": "Secondary"
          },
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-917"
              }
            ],
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Important",
      "current_release_date": "2026-01-09T09:06:36+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2021-31805",
      "id": "CVE-2021-31805",
      "initial_release_date": "2021-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "3",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "Struts: Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw not validated user input in tag attributes, may lead to RCE.",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2021/cve-2021-31805.json",
      "version": "3"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.


Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.