CVE-2026-73633
HighCVSS 7.5Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Low risk25th percentile - higher than 25% of all known CVEs
Summary
The JSON plugin in Apache Struts has an uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability. When an application is configured to populate actions from a JSON request body, the plugin reads that body into memory without bounding how much it will accept, so a single request can exhaust the heap and deny service to other users. The plugin's configurable JSON input length limit does not bound this read. Affected versions: Apache Struts from 2.1.8 through 2.3.37, from 2.5.0 through 2.5.33, from 6.0.0 through 6.10.0, from 7.0.0 through 7.2.1.
Risk Assessment
An attacker can send a single request that exhausts server memory, causing application unavailability for other users. This can lead to service disruptions and financial losses.
Recommendation
Upgrade Apache Struts to version 6.11.0 or 7.3.0, which fix the issue. If upgrading is not possible, consider disabling JSON request-body handling in the plugin.
Other vulnerabilities in Apache Struts
See all- CVE-2016-3090High
The TextParseUtil.translateVariables method in Apache Struts 2.x before version 2.3.20 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted OGNL expression using ANTLR tooling.
- CVE-2016-4461High
Apache Struts 2.x before version 2.3.29 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a "%{}" sequence in a tag attribute, known as forced double OGNL evaluation.
- CVE-2017-9804High
In Apache Struts versions 2.3.7 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.12, it is possible to prepare a special URL that can overload the server process during URL validation in a form. This issue exists due to an incomplete fix for S2-047 / CVE-2017-7672.
- CVE-2015-5209High
Apache Struts 2.x before version 2.3.24.1 allows remote attackers to manipulate Struts internals, which may lead to altering user sessions or affecting container settings.
- CVE-2017-9787High
Using Spring AOP functionality to secure Struts actions can lead to a DoS attack.
- CVE-2016-4433High
Apache Struts 2 versions 2.3.20 through 2.3.28.1 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and conduct redirection attacks via a crafted request.
- CVE-2016-4431High
Apache Struts 2 versions 2.3.20 through 2.3.28.1 allow remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and conduct redirection attacks by leveraging a default method.
- CVE-2016-4430High
Apache Struts 2 versions 2.3.20 through 2.3.28.1 mishandle token validation, allowing remote attackers to conduct cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks via unspecified vectors.
- CVE-2016-0785High
Apache Struts 2.x before version 2.3.28 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a "%{}" sequence in a tag attribute, known as forced double OGNL evaluation.
- CVE-2015-1831High
The default exclude patterns (excludeParams) in Apache Struts 2.3.20 allow remote attackers to compromise internal state of an application via unspecified vectors.
Original NVD description (English source)
Uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in the JSON plugin of Apache Struts. When an application is configured to populate actions from a JSON request body, the plugin reads that body into memory without bounding how much it will accept, so a single request can exhaust the heap and deny service to other users. The plugin's configurable JSON input length limit does not bound this read. The JSON plugin is an optional component; applications that do not use it, or use it without enabling JSON request-body handling, are not affected. This issue affects Apache Struts: from 2.1.8 through 2.3.37, from 2.5.0 through 2.5.33, from 6.0.0 through 6.10.0, from 7.0.0 through 7.2.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 6.11.0 or 7.3.0, which fixes the issue.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS