---
title: "CVE-2023-50164: Apache Struts vulnerable to path traversal"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-50164/
description: "CVE-2023-50164 (org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven)): An attacker can manipulate file upload params to enable paths traversal and under some…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-12-07
date_modified: 2025-03-14
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-50164"
kev: false
cvss: 9.8
epss: 0.80819
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-50164: Apache Struts vulnerable to path traversal

**Signal:** High exploit likelihood. EPSS ranks it in the top 5% of all CVEs for likely exploitation in the next 30 days. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Not in CISA KEV , but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 80.8% , percentile 99.6: FIRST’s model estimates a 80.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.6% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven) >= 6.0.0, < 6.3.0.2, fixed in 6.3.0.2 ; org.apache.struts:struts2-core (Maven) >= 2.0.0, < 2.5.33, fixed in 2.5.33 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

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. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions Struts 2.5.33 or Struts 6.3.0.2 or greater to fix this issue.

## Affected packages

- Maven `org.apache.struts:struts2-core` >= 6.0.0, < 6.3.0.2 → fixed: 6.3.0.2
- Maven `org.apache.struts:struts2-core` >= 2.0.0, < 2.5.33 → fixed: 2.5.33

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Apache Software Foundation Apache Struts: 2.0.0 <= 2.5.32, 6.0.0 <= 6.3.0.1

## Severity

- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 80.82% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.6.

## Sources

- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread/yh09b3fkf6vz5d6jdgrlvmg60lfwtqhj)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-2j39-qcjm-428w](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-2j39-qcjm-428w)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-50164](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-50164)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-50164](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50164)
- [openwall.com](https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1)
- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176157/Struts-S2-066-File-Upload-Remote-Code-Execution.html)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231214-0010/)
- [openwall.com](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1)
- [github.com](https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/162e29fee9136f4bfd9b2376da2cbf590f9ea163)
- [github.com](https://github.com/apache/struts/commit/d8c69691ef1d15e76a5f4fcf33039316da2340b6)
- [cwiki.apache.org](https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-066)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-50164/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt