Cyber Resilience

CVE-2016-3081

RCE in Apache Struts 2.0.0 … 2.3.8

Public PoCHigh EPSSRCECommand Injection
Published
26 April 2016
Modified
06 May 2026
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3 8.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.93 99.8th percentile
Risk Priority 81 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2016-3081 is a high-severity Command Injection (CWE-77) vulnerability in Apache Struts. Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A05:2025 Injection

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Apache Struts 2.3.19 to 2.3.20.2, 2.3.21 to 2.3.24.1, and 2.3.25 to 2.3.28, when Dynamic Method Invocation is enabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via method: prefix, related to chained expressions.

CWE(s)
CWE-77

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Remote code execution via crafted method: prefix in Struts DMI directly enables exploitation of a public-facing web application.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Executionconfidence: HIGH
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary command/script execution on the server.
attack.mitre.org →
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: MEDIUM
Arbitrary code execution can be leveraged to escalate privileges depending on the process context.
attack.mitre.org →
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2019-0230Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2024-53677Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2017-12611Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2023-28935Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2024-45505Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2023-34149Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2016-3087Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2023-52291Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2023-22884Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2023-34396Same product: Apache Struts

Affected Assets

apache
struts
2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.10, 2.0.11, 2.0.11.1
oracle
siebel e-billing
7.1

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.2.3
  • V1.2.5
  • V1.2.8
  • V1.2.9

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require input validation and neutralization that prevent command injection.

DE.CM-09 partial match
prevents

Runtime monitoring of software and data can detect anomalous command execution resulting from injection.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Identifying recorded vulnerabilities enables remediation of command-injection flaws before exploitation.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.28 Secure coding mostly match
prevents

Secure coding standards require proper escaping and parameterization of commands, directly eliminating CWE-77.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
detects

Security testing in development catches command-injection vulnerabilities before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates input validation and command construction practices that directly prevent command injection.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for controls against injection flaws including command injection.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles reduce the attack surface but do not prescribe the specific neutralization techniques needed.

A.8.31 Separation of development, test and production environments none match
none

Environment separation limits the blast radius of an exploited command injection but does not prevent the flaw itself.

References