What is CVE-2020-17530?

CVE-2020-17530 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apache Struts, classified under Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement (Expression Language Injection). CVSS score: 9.8/10. Published 2020-12-11.

How severe is CVE-2020-17530?

Critical severity. CVSS v3 base score is 9.8 out of 10.

Is CVE-2020-17530 known to be exploited?

Yes. CVE-2020-17530 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03), indicating it is being actively exploited. 89 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.

RCE in Apache Struts

CVE-2020-17530

Forced OGNL evaluation, when evaluated on raw user input in tag attributes, may lead to remote code execution. Affected software : Apache Struts 2.0.0 - Struts 2.5.25.

Vulnerability class: Log4Shell (CVE-2021-44228)

Published 2020-12-11 · last modified 2026-06-17.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 9.8 (Critical). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.959 (99.9th percentile), scored 2026-10-16.

Very high probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — among the top 0.1% most-likely-to-be-exploited CVEs. 100th percentile — 99.9% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.959 · newest: 0.959 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Apache Struts
Apache Software Foundation Struts — versions Struts 2.0.0 - Struts 2.5.25
Oracle Business Intelligence — versions 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0
Oracle Communications Diameter Intelligence Hub — versions 8.0.0, 8.1.0, 8.2.0
Oracle Communications Policy Management — versions 12.5.0
Oracle Communications Pricing Design Center — versions 12.0.0.3.0
Oracle Financial Services Data Integration Hub — versions 8.0.3, 8.0.6
Oracle Hospitality Opera 5 — versions 5.6
Oracle MySQL Enterprise Monitor — versions 8.0.23

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-917 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement (Expression Language Injection)

CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)

This CVE is on the CISA KEV catalog, added on 2021-11-03. CISA KEV inclusion means CISA has confirmed in-the-wild exploitation; US federal agencies are required to remediate within a published due date.

BOD 22-01 due date: 2022-05-03.

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-061 (Vendor Advisory)
jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN43969166/index.html (Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
packetstormsecurity.com/files/160721/Apache-Struts-2-Forced-Multi-OGNL-Evaluati… (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210115-0005/ (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/04/12/6 (mailing-list, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-17530?: CVE-2020-17530 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apache Struts, classified under Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement (Expression Language Injection). CVSS score: 9.8/10. Published 2020-12-11.
How severe is CVE-2020-17530?: Critical severity. CVSS v3 base score is 9.8 out of 10.
Is CVE-2020-17530 known to be exploited?: Yes. CVE-2020-17530 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03), indicating it is being actively exploited. 89 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.