CVE-2017-9791Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vectorHinoki check available

Code execution via raw-message OGNL evaluation

Published Jul 10, 2017 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

OGNL injection in Apache Struts 2.1.x and 2.3.x allows remote attackers to execute code through Struts 1 plugin messages. Struts1Action.execute passes raw ActionMessage keys containing untrusted field values to getText, which evaluates embedded OGNL expressions. Exploitation requires a reachable Struts 1 action using the plugin and unsafe message construction; executed code inherits the application process's permissions.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability98.91%
Next 30 days · Nov 1, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

OGNL injection in Apache Struts 2.1.x and 2.3.x allows remote attackers to execute code through Struts 1 plugin messages. Struts1Action.execute passes raw ActionMessage keys containing untrusted field values to getText, which evaluates embedded OGNL expressions. Exploitation requires a reachable Struts 1 action using the plugin and unsafe message construction; executed code inherits the application process's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2017-9791
Published
Jul 10, 2017
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Struts
Classifications
CWE-20, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 10, 2017CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.1.x series
  2. Affected versionversion=2.3.x series

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apache Software Foundation · Apache Strutsversion=2.1.x series; version=2.3.x series

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsShadowserver observations through Sep 28, 2026. Gaps indicate unavailable data.
Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
View daily counts
Reporting dayUnique IPs
Sep 22, 202611
Sep 23, 20265
Sep 24, 202612
Sep 25, 202615
Sep 26, 20266
Sep 27, 202616
Sep 28, 202612
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPs12
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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