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Critical, CVSS 9.8

Arbitrary code execution in Apache Struts 2

CVE-2016-4438GHSA-4prj-vw9j-v6pr

What to do

Vendor fix available. Upgrade each affected package to the fixed version on its release line (org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin 2.3.29; org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.29), redeploy, then verify what is actually installed.

This page has no inventory attached, so it cannot say whether you are affected. A vendor fix is not proof that your deployment is fixed.

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Affected packages

Sources

Severity and exploitation
Exploitation
No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.
CVSS
9.8 · CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS
  • CVE-2016-4438: 16.74% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 97.04 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.
Source description

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

The REST plugin in Apache Struts 2 2.3.19 through 2.3.28.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted expression.

Dates and revisions
Published by the source
Last modified by the source
Source last checked
  1. Revision 1 · created ·

    Published from ghsa record GHSA-4prj-vw9j-v6pr

Agent brief

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2016-4438

Advisory: Arbitrary code execution in Apache Struts 2
IDs: CVE-2016-4438, GHSA-4prj-vw9j-v6pr
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2016-4438 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:24 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin 2.3.29; org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.29. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin: affected >= 2.3.19, < 2.3.29; fixed in 2.3.29
- Maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core: affected >= 2.3.19, < 2.3.29; fixed in 2.3.29

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Maven org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin: check the installed version with your package manager.
- Maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on org.apache.struts:struts2-rest-plugin, org.apache.struts:struts2-core.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4prj-vw9j-v6pr (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-4prj-vw9j-v6pr lists affected ranges: Maven org.apache.struts:struts2-core >=2.3.19 =2.3.19 <2.3.29)

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