Apache Tiles: Unvalidated input may lead to path traversal and XXE

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

7.5 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

EPSS

• CVE-2023-49735: 1.36% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 71.67 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

The value set as the DefaultLocaleResolver.LOCALEKEY attribute on the session was not validated while resolving XML definition files, leading to possible path traversal and eventually SSRF/XXE when passing user-controlled data to this key. Passing user-controlled data to this key may be relatively common, as it was also used like that to set the language in the 'tiles-test' application shipped with Tiles. This issue affects Apache Tiles from version 2 onwards. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.

Published by the source

1 Dec 2023, 00:31 UTC

Last modified by the source

4 Nov 2025, 18:12 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:40 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-qw4h-3xjj-84cc

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2023-49735

Advisory: Apache Tiles: Unvalidated input may lead to path traversal and XXE
IDs: CVE-2023-49735, GHSA-qw4h-3xjj-84cc
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2023-49735 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:40 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.5)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor response not established. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.apache.tiles:tiles-core: affected >= 2.0.0
- Maven org.apache.struts:struts-tiles: affected >= 1.3.0, <= 1.3.10
- Maven struts:struts: affected >= 1.1, <= 1.2.9

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

## Supported action
No complete vendor fix is recorded. Follow the primary source's mitigation guidance and check this record again before closing anything.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on org.apache.tiles:tiles-core, org.apache.struts:struts-tiles, struts:struts.
- 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-qw4h-3xjj-84cc (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-qw4h-3xjj-84cc lists affected ranges: Maven org.apache.tiles:tiles-core >=2.0.0; Maven org.apache.struts:struts-tiles >=1.3.0 =1.1 <=1.2.9)

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