Apache Struts file upload directory traversal

Added: 12/20/2023

Background

Apache Struts is an open-source web application framework for developing Java EE web applications. It uses and extends the Java Servlet API to encourage developers to adopt a model-view-controller (MVC) architecture.

Problem

A directory traversal vulnerability in Apache Struts allows remote attackers to upload files to arbitrary locations, leading to command execution.

Resolution

Upgrade to Struts 2.5.33 or 6.3.0.2 or higher.

References

<https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-066&gt;
<https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/apache-struts-rce-cve-2023-50164&gt;

Limitations

The vulnerability can only be exploited if a Struts application allows file uploads. This exploit only works if Struts is running on Tomcat.

On success, this exploit creates a sntxp web application which must be manually removed from the target.