Web Server Apache Struts includeParams RCE

Apache Struts versions 2.3.14 and 2.3.14.1 that make use of the includeParams URL/Anchor HTML tag attribute are vulnerable to remote code execution. OGNL expressions can be passed as parameter values which are then passed to the OGNL library for evaluation leading to the execution of Java code.

Exploitation

Stages

1. The attacker sends an HTTP request with Java OGNL expression in the URI parameters to the vulnerable Java webserver.
2. The server replies with an HTTP response containing java.lang.UNIXProcess embedded in the HTTP client body.

Prerequisites

The attacker can access and attack vulnerable Struts applications directly and without authentication.

Alert Logic Coverage

Alert Logic® has evaluated its customer base for exposure to the exploit and has developed signatures for mitigating the threat depending on the security service in place.

The Network-Based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) has been updated with the new signatures for this exploit when detected via Alert Logic Threat Manager™. If this signature is detected, an incident is generated in the Alert Logic console.

Detection of this threat is provided via Alert Logic ActiveWatch for Web Security Manager service. Depending on your deployment of Web Security Manager, you will receive an incident (for out-of-band deployment) or the threat will be actively blocked and rejected (for the inline Web Security Manager Premier deployment) if an exploit attempt is observed.

Recommendations for Mitigation

Upgrade to a non-vulnerable version to mitigate this vulnerability.