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CVE-2016-3081

Affected software2 products, listed below
Severity8.1 High CVSS 3.1 3 scores
Fixed in2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3, 2.3.28.1
WeaknessCommand injection (CWE-77)
Published26 Apr 2016
Updated9 Oct 2026

Description

Apache Struts 2.3.19 to 2.3.20.2, 2.3.21 to 2.3.24.1, and 2.3.25 to 2.3.28, when Dynamic Method Invocation is enabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via method: prefix, related to chained expressions.

Exploitation status

Exploited

Confirmed real-world exploitation.

  • CISA KEV listed Confirmed exploitation in the wild. Added 2026-10-08 · remediation due 2026-10-11 · ransomware use: unknown
  • VulnCheck KEV listed Exploitation reported in the wild. 4 citations · earliest 2026-07-23.
  • CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: active CISA records active exploitation. Automatable: no, technical impact: total.
  • Indexed PoC 3 indexed Published artifacts you can open, in Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei; first seen 2016-05-02.
  • EPSS 97% chance in 30 days A model's forecast, not a report of exploitation. Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs.

VulnCheck KEV

Exploitation evidence from VulnCheck Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (VulnCheck KEV), used under VulnCheck's community terms. View CVE-2016-3081 in VulnCheck (free account).

EvidenceSourceDetailDate
Reported exploitation previdian.com /CVE-2016-3081 2026-07-23
Reported exploitation cisa.gov /news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa26-281a 2026-10-08
Reported exploitation cisa.gov /sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json 2026-10-08
Reported exploitation foresiet.com /wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Foresiet_Global_Threat_Intelligence_Report_October_2026.pdf 2026-11-05
IndexArtifactStarsFirst seen
Exploit-DB Apache Struts - Dynamic Method Invocation Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) 2016-05-02
Nuclei Apache S2-032 Struts - Remote Code Execution
Metasploit Apache Struts Dynamic Method Invocation Remote Code Execution (excellent rank)

Waratek protection

Protected by Waratek

Waratek has a rule that blocks attacks on this vulnerability.

Decided by A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule
Finding Protected by Waratek's ARMR command-injection security rule, which blocks this class of attack at the JVM level without a rule written for this CVE specifically. The CVE's weakness is CWE-77: Command Injection.

How to mitigate CVE-2016-3081

Upgrade the affected software to a release that fixes it: 2.3.20.3, 2.3.24.3 or 2.3.28.1. Until you can, Waratek RASP blocks exploitation with its process rule. It runs inside the Java application, with no code changes.

Waratek RASP Runtime protection for Java applications

CVSS

8.1 HIGH v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H 3 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

VersionScoreBandVectorAssignerType
CVSS 3.1 8.1 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H NVD Primary published
CVSS 3.1 8.1 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H CISA-ADP Secondary
CVSS 2.0 9.3 none AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C NVD Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

AdvisoryTypeQuarterProducts Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2016 ↗ CPU 2016-Q4 Oracle Financial Services Applications / Struts (2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.2.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.3, 12.1.0)
Oracle Siebel CRM / Security (7.1)
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2016 ↗ CPU 2016-Q3 Oracle Retail Applications / Retail (10.0.1, 10.5.0, 10.6.0, 10.7.0, 10.8.0, 10.8.1)

Oracle components and versions

FamilyComponentVersions, as Oracle lists themRead as
Oracle Financial Services Applications Struts 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.2.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.3, 12.1.0 2.0.0 · 2.0.1 · 2.2.0 · 12.0.1 · 12.0.3 · 12.1.0
Oracle Retail Applications Retail 10.0.1, 10.5.0, 10.6.0, 10.7.0, 10.8.0, 10.8.1 10.0.1 · 10.5.0 · 10.6.0 · 10.7.0 · 10.8.0 · 10.8.1
Oracle Siebel CRM Security 7.1 7.1

Maven packages

Affected and fixed versions, from OSV.dev
PackageIntroducedFixedLast affected
org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.19 2.3.20.3 unbounded
org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.21 2.3.24.3 unbounded
org.apache.struts:struts2-core 2.3.25 2.3.28.1 unbounded

Products and versions

21 products, 69 version entries
SourceVendorProductSchemeAffected versions
nvd apache struts generic ≥ 2.3.20 and < 2.3.20.3 · ≥ 2.3.21 and < 2.3.24.3 · ≥ 2.3.25 and < 2.3.28.1
nvd huawei agile controller-campus firmware generic v100r002c00
nvd huawei anyoffice generic v200r005c00 · v200r006c00
nvd huawei firehunter6000 firmware generic v100r001c20
nvd huawei logcenter generic v100r001c10 · v100r001c20
nvd huawei oceanstor 18500 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 18500f firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 18800 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 18800f firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 5300 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 5500 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 5600 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 5800 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 6800 v3 firmware generic v300r001 · v300r002 · v300r003c00 · v300r003c10
nvd huawei oceanstor 9000 firmware generic v100r001c01 · v100r001c30 · v300r005c00
nvd huawei oceanstor n8500 firmware generic v200r001c09spc505 · v200r001c91spc205 · v200r001c91spc900 · v200r001c91spc901
nvd huawei oceanstor onebox firmware generic v100r003c10
nvd oracle flexcube private banking generic 2.0.0.0 · 2.0.1 · 2.2.0 · 12.0.1 · 12.0.3 · 12.1.0
nvd oracle micros retail xbri loss prevention generic 10.0.1 · 10.5.0 · 10.6.0 · 10.7.0 · 10.8.0 · 10.8.1
nvd oracle siebel e-billing generic 7.1
osv org.apache.struts struts2-core generic ≥ 2.3.19 and < 2.3.20.3 · ≥ 2.3.21 and < 2.3.24.3 · ≥ 2.3.25 and < 2.3.28.1

References

URLTags
https://github.com/apache/struts PACKAGE
https://struts.apache.org/docs/s2-032.html WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20210123152457/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91787 WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20210225192113/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/87327 WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20210226011418/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035665 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39756 WEB
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136856/Apache-Struts-2.3.28-Dynamic-Method-Invocation-Remote-Code-Execution.html WEB
http://www.huawei.com/en/psirt/security-advisories/huawei-sa-20160527-01-struts2-en WEB
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html WEB
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html WEB

Timeline

Published2016-04-26By the CVE Program.
VulnCheck KEV: earliest evidence2026-07-23Date of the oldest evidence of exploitation in VulnCheck KEV's record. VulnCheck does not publish the date it listed the CVE.
Added to CISA KEV2026-10-08Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
NVD record modified2026-10-09NVD's own last-modified date for this record.
VulnCheck KEV: latest evidence2026-11-05Date of the newest report, exploit reference or honeypot sighting in VulnCheck KEV's record.