CVE-2016-8738
Apache Struts vulnerable to possible DoS attack when using URLValidator
In Apache Struts 2.5 through 2.5.5, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and the built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
In Apache Struts 2.5 through 2.5.5, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and the built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
- Record
CVE-2016-8738- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.3 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
In Apache Struts 2.5 through 2.5.5, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and the built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
- Record
CVE-2016-8738- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-3130 No score
In Apache Struts 2.5 through 2.5.5, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and the built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
- Record
EUVD-2022-3130- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-86vq-8qhc-5rqw
Apache Struts vulnerable to possible DoS attack when using URLValidator
If an application allows enter an URL in a form field and built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
- Record
GHSA-86vq-8qhc-5rqw- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
In Apache Struts 2.5 through 2.5.5, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and the built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
- Record
CVE-2016-8738- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-86vq-8qhc-5rqw
Apache Struts vulnerable to possible DoS attack when using URLValidator
If an application allows enter an URL in a form field and built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL.
- Record
GHSA-86vq-8qhc-5rqw- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.struts:struts2-coreMaven |
2.5.0 up to 2.5.13 | 2.5.13 |
org.apache.struts:struts2-coreMaven |
2.5.0 up to 2.5.13, plus listed versions 2.52.5.12.5.102.5.10.12.5.122.5.22.5.52.5.8 |
2.5.13 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2016-8738 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.9) in Apache Struts, published September 20, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.26%, the 88th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.5.13.