CVE-2017-5638

CRITICALNVD 9.89.8—
EchelonGraph scoreHIGH confidence

Score elevated to 9.8 because this CVE is listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03), indicating real-world exploitation has been confirmed by US federal agencies. NVD baseline CVSS 9.8 retained for reference. Confidence: HIGH.

Triggered by: CISA KEV (actively exploited)
Sources: cisa_kev, epss, nvd
Exploited in the wild
9.8EG
EchelonGraph verdictPatch nowTreat as an emergency — this is being exploited.
  • Actively exploited in the wild (CISA-KEV)
CISA-KEV: ExploitedEPSS PROB: 100%CVSS: 9.8Exploit: cisa kev · ssvc active · kev ransomware · Metasploit · Exploit-DB (verified) · epss top5pct · epss high · public exploitExposed services: Not assessed

A fix is available — apply it.

The Jakarta Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2 2.3.x before 2.3.32 and 2.5.x before 2.5.10.1 has incorrect exception handling and error-message generation during file-upload attempts, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or Content-Length HTTP header, as exploited in the wild in March 2017 with a Content-Type header containing a #cmd= string.

CVSS v3
9.8
EG Score
9.8CRITICALhigh confidence
EG Risk
99
EG Risk 99/100CISA SSVC

EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).

How it’s computed
Severity98% × 45%
Exploitation100% × 40%
Automatability100% × 15%
CISA SSVC: Attend at low mission impact; Act at medium or high.
Action: A fix is available. Apply it sooner than your standard update timelines at low mission impact and as soon as possible at medium or high.
EPSS PROB
100%
EPSS %ILE
99th
KEV
⚠ Exploited

CISA SSVCAttend at low mission impact; Act at medium or high.

A fix is available. Apply it sooner than your standard update timelines at low mission impact and as soon as possible at medium or high.

Exploitation active (CISA Vulnrichment) · Automatable yes (CISA Vulnrichment) · Technical impact total (CISA Vulnrichment). Mission impact is CISA's Mission & Well-being decision point, and only you can judge it: high means the affected system is essential to your organisation's mission, or its compromise could cause irreversible harm to people. CISA's decision table

Published

March 11, 2017

Last Modified

June 17, 2026

Advisory Details (8)

Auto-updated Oct 6, 2026
⚠️ Active exploitation confirmed. Patch available.
generic

S2-046 - Apache Struts 2 Wiki - Apache Software Foundation

https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-046
generic

S2-045 - Apache Struts 2 Wiki - Apache Software Foundation

https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-045
generic

Critical vulnerability under “massive” attack imperils high-impact sites [Updated] - Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/critical-vulnerability-under-massive-attack-imperils-high-impact-sites/
generic🔴 Active Exploitation

CVE-2017-5638 - PSIRT.COM

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96729
generic

Apache Struts Vulnerability Exposes Sites to Attack | eWeek

http://www.eweek.com/security/apache-struts-vulnerability-under-attack.html
generic🔴 Active Exploitation

Content-Type: Malicious - New Apache Struts2 0-day Under Attack

http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/03/apache-0-day-exploited.html
generic🔴 Active Exploitation

Apache Struts 2 Vulnerability Leads to RCE | Trend Micro (US)

http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/cve-2017-5638-apache-struts-vulnerability-remote-code-execution/
generic
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037973

Affected Packages

(1 across 1 ecosystem)
Maven(1)
PackageVulnerable rangeFix by version rangeDependents
org.apache.struts:struts2-core2.5 ... 2.5.8 (6 versions)
  • 2.3.0 up to 2.3.32: fixed in 2.3.32
  • 2.5.0 up to 2.5.10.1: fixed in 2.5.10.1
—

Weakness Classification(1)

MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.

Data Freshness Timeline

(refreshed 0× in last 7d / 13× in last 30d)

Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.

  1. 2026-09-28 23:46 UTCEG score recompute
  2. 2026-09-27 21:51 UTCCISA KEV update
  3. 2026-09-25 19:35 UTCCISA KEV update
  4. 2026-09-25 14:55 UTCCISA KEV update
  5. 2026-09-24 19:31 UTCCISA KEV update
  6. 2026-09-22 19:36 UTCCISA KEV update
  7. 2026-09-21 19:09 UTCCISA KEV update
  8. 2026-09-18 19:20 UTCCISA KEV update
  9. 2026-09-18 14:15 UTCCISA KEV update
  10. 2026-09-16 14:10 UTCCISA KEV update
  11. 2026-09-14 19:24 UTCCISA KEV update
  12. 2026-09-11 18:49 UTCCISA KEV update
  13. 2026-09-10 19:28 UTCCISA KEV update
  14. 2026-09-09 19:08 UTCCISA KEV update
  15. 2026-09-08 18:54 UTCCISA KEV update
  16. 2026-09-04 17:38 UTCCISA KEV update
  17. 2026-09-02 17:33 UTCCISA KEV update
  18. 2026-08-31 14:19 UTCCISA KEV update
  19. 2026-08-27 17:22 UTCCISA KEV update
  20. 2026-08-26 17:41 UTCCISA KEV update
  21. 2026-08-24 18:52 UTCCISA KEV update
  22. 2026-08-21 16:49 UTCCISA KEV update
  23. 2026-08-20 17:06 UTCCISA KEV update
  24. 2026-08-19 17:33 UTCCISA KEV update
  25. 2026-08-18 16:58 UTCCISA KEV update
Show 69 more
  1. 2026-08-17 13:56 UTCCISA KEV update
  2. 2026-08-11 19:32 UTCCISA KEV update
  3. 2026-08-07 17:09 UTCCISA KEV update
  4. 2026-08-05 17:25 UTCCISA KEV update
  5. 2026-08-04 17:02 UTCCISA KEV update
  6. 2026-08-03 19:22 UTCCISA KEV update
  7. 2026-07-30 09:56 UTCEG score recompute
  8. 2026-07-29 19:27 UTCCISA KEV update
  9. 2026-07-27 19:24 UTCCISA KEV update
  10. 2026-07-27 17:17 UTCCISA KEV update
  11. 2026-07-26 10:49 UTCEG score recompute
  12. 2026-07-23 01:29 UTCEG score recompute
  13. 2026-07-22 21:49 UTCEG score recompute
  14. 2026-07-22 19:40 UTCCISA KEV update
  15. 2026-07-21 14:37 UTCCISA KEV update
  16. 2026-07-17 10:46 UTCEG score recompute
  17. 2026-07-16 17:04 UTCCISA KEV update
  18. 2026-07-15 16:49 UTCCISA KEV update
  19. 2026-07-15 15:04 UTCCISA KEV update
  20. 2026-07-14 18:05 UTCCISA KEV update
  21. 2026-07-13 17:07 UTCCISA KEV update
  22. 2026-07-10 17:52 UTCCISA KEV update
  23. 2026-07-07 19:01 UTCCISA KEV update
  24. 2026-07-07 17:16 UTCCISA KEV update
  25. 2026-07-01 19:16 UTCCISA KEV update
  26. 2026-06-29 19:12 UTCCISA KEV update
  27. 2026-06-25 19:15 UTCCISA KEV update
  28. 2026-06-25 13:47 UTCEPSS rescore
  29. 2026-06-23 17:44 UTCCISA KEV update
  30. 2026-06-18 16:13 UTCCISA KEV update
  31. 2026-06-16 19:33 UTCCISA KEV update
  32. 2026-06-15 19:33 UTCCISA KEV update
  33. 2026-06-15 17:45 UTCEPSS rescore
  34. 2026-06-12 23:09 UTCEPSS rescore
  35. 2026-06-12 17:35 UTCCISA KEV update
  36. 2026-06-11 19:10 UTCCISA KEV update
  37. 2026-06-09 18:42 UTCCISA KEV update
  38. 2026-06-09 17:12 UTCCISA KEV update
  39. 2026-06-08 19:16 UTCCISA KEV update
  40. 2026-06-08 17:26 UTCCISA KEV update
  41. 2026-06-05 22:43 UTCCISA KEV update
  42. 2026-06-03 19:09 UTCCISA KEV update
  43. 2026-06-02 18:32 UTCCISA KEV update
  44. 2026-06-01 20:42 UTCCISA KEV update
  45. 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
  46. 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
  47. 2026-05-31 03:25 UTCOSV refresh
  48. 2026-05-29 22:20 UTCCISA KEV update
  49. 2026-05-29 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
  50. 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  51. 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  52. 2026-05-27 20:35 UTCCISA KEV update
  53. 2026-05-26 19:13 UTCCISA KEV update
  54. 2026-05-26 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  55. 2026-05-26 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  56. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  57. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  58. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  59. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  60. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  61. 2026-05-22 19:13 UTCCISA KEV update
  62. 2026-05-21 22:36 UTCCISA KEV update
  63. 2026-05-20 17:33 UTCCISA KEV update
  64. 2026-05-20 11:21 UTCEPSS rescore
  65. 2026-05-20 11:21 UTCEPSS rescore
  66. 2026-05-18 21:54 UTCEG score recompute
  67. 2026-05-18 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
  68. 2026-05-18 21:22 UTCCISA KEV update
  69. 2026-05-18 21:22 UTCCISA KEV update

Publicly available exploits

(10 references)

Working exploit code is in the public domain (2 Metasploit modules) (6 GitHub PoCs) (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.

  • Exploit-DBEDB-41614✓ verified
    First seen Mar 15, 2017

    Apache Struts 2.3.5 < 2.3.31 / 2.5 < 2.5.10 - 'Jakarta' Multipart Parser OGNL Injection (Metasploit)

    Open source ↗
  • Metasploitexploit/multi/http/struts2_content_type_ognl✓ verified
    First seen Mar 10, 2017

    OGNL injection via Content-Type header — the exploit chain used in the Equifax breach.

    Open source ↗
  • Exploit-DBEDB-41570✓ verified
    First seen Mar 9, 2017

    Standalone Python exploit, weaponised within 48h of patch release.

    Open source ↗
  • Metasploitexploit/multi/http/struts2_content_type_ognl✓ verified
    First seen Mar 7, 2017

    Apache Struts Jakarta Multipart Parser OGNL Injection

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCwin3zz/CVE-2017-5638
    First seen May 13, 2018

    Apache Struts 2.3.5 < 2.3.31 / 2.5 < 2.5.10 - Remote Code Execution - Shell Script

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCjas502n/st2-046-poc
    First seen Mar 21, 2017

    st2-046-poc CVE-2017-5638

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCjrrdev/cve-2017-5638
    First seen Mar 15, 2017

    cve-2017-5638 Vulnerable site sample

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCmazen160/struts-pwn
    First seen Mar 12, 2017

    An exploit for Apache Struts CVE-2017-5638

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCret2jazzy/Struts-Apache-ExploitPack
    First seen Mar 12, 2017

    These are just some script which you can use to detect and exploit the Apache Struts Vulnerability (CVE-2017-5638)

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCimmunio/apache-struts2-CVE-2017-5638
    First seen Mar 10, 2017

    Demo Application and Exploit

    Open source ↗

Past incidents using this CVE

(1)

This CVE was central to one or more publicly-documented breaches. Each card links to authoritative reporting at the time of the incident.

  • Equifax breach (Apache Struts)Sep 2017147M+ affected

    Apache Struts OGNL injection vulnerability — Equifax failed to patch for 2 months, leading to one of the largest PII breaches in history. 147M US consumers exposed.

    Source: CSO Online

Related CVEs(same product + same CWE)

Frequently asked(6)

What is CVE-2017-5638?
CVE-2017-5638 is a critical vulnerability published on March 11, 2017. The Jakarta Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2 2.3.x before 2.3.32 and 2.5.x before 2.5.10.1 has incorrect exception handling and error-message generation during file-upload attempts, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted Content-Type, Content-Disposition, or…
When was CVE-2017-5638 disclosed?
CVE-2017-5638 was first published on March 11, 2017, with the most recent update on June 17, 2026. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2017-5638 actively exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2017-5638 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on November 3, 2021, affecting Apache Struts. KEV listing indicates confirmed exploitation in the wild; this CVE warrants immediate attention. A fix is available. Apply it.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5638?
CVE-2017-5638 has a CVSS v3 base score of 9.8 (NVD).
Which products are affected by CVE-2017-5638?
CVE-2017-5638 affects Apache Struts. The affected packages EchelonGraph has on record, with version ranges, are listed in the Affected Packages section of this page.
How do I remediate CVE-2017-5638?
A fix for CVE-2017-5638 is available: update to the fixed version the vendor names in its advisory.

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