Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-53677

Apache Struts 2.0.0 – 6.4.0

High EPSS
Published
11 December 2024
Modified
15 July 2025
CVSS Score v4 9.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:N/AU:Y/R:A/V:C/RE:L/U:Red
EPSS Score 0.78 99.5th percentile
Risk Priority 70 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2024-53677 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Apache Struts. Its CVSS base score is 9.5 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-3 (Malicious Code Protection) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

Apache Struts contains a flaw in its legacy file upload logic that permits an attacker to manipulate upload parameters and perform path traversal. The issue affects all versions from 2.0.0 through 6.3.x and is tracked as CVE-2024-53677 with a CVSS score of 9.5; it is triggered when applications continue to rely on the deprecated FileUploadInterceptor rather than the newer upload mechanism.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can supply crafted file-upload parameters to write a malicious file to an arbitrary location on the server. Under certain deployment conditions this file can subsequently be executed, resulting in remote code execution on the affected Struts instance.

The Apache Security Team recommends immediate upgrade to Struts 6.4.0 or later together with migration to the new file-upload implementation documented at https://struts.apache.org/core-developers/file-upload. Applications that do not use the old FileUploadInterceptor are unaffected. Additional details are available in the S2-067 advisory at https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-067, and NetApp has published a corresponding advisory.

The CVE carries an EPSS score of 0.93, indicating a high likelihood of exploitation in the wild.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

File upload logic in Apache Struts is flawed. An attacker can manipulate file upload params to enable paths traversal and under some circumstances this can lead to uploading a malicious file which can be used to perform Remote Code Execution.…

more

This issue affects Apache Struts: from 2.0.0 before 6.4.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 6.4.0 at least and migrate to the new file upload mechanism https://struts.apache.org/core-developers/file-upload . If you are not using an old file upload logic based on FileuploadInterceptor your application is safe. You can find more details in https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-067

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1505 Server Software Component Persistence
Adversaries may abuse legitimate extensible development features of servers to establish persistent access to systems.
T1505.003 Web Shell Persistence
Adversaries may backdoor web servers with web shells to establish persistent access to systems.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Control
Adversaries may transfer tools or other files from an external system into a compromised environment.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2021-31805Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2025-68493Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2012-0391Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2013-2115Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2017-9791Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2017-12611Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2016-3087Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2023-41835Same product: Apache Struts
CVE-2016-3088Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2026-34031Same vendor: Apache

Affected Assets

apache
struts
2.0.0 — 6.4.0

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)
  • V5.1.1

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Malicious-code protection at entry points blocks dangerous file types from being accepted and executed.

Least functionality restricts the file types and automatic processing capabilities the system will accept.

SC-18 Mobile Code partial match

Mobile-code controls define, authorize, and block unacceptable uploaded code before automatic processing occurs.

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-05 mostly match
prevents

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

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.

finds

Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.

prevents

Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.

prevents

Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.

mitigates

Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.

References