# CVE-2023-50164: Apache Struts - Arbitrary File Read

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-50164 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-50164

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Apache Struts
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-552 (Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties)
- **Tags:** web_application, java

## Description

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.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-50164](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-50164) is a critical vulnerability affecting Apache Struts, where attackers can manipulate file upload parameters to achieve path traversal. Under certain conditions, this can result in the upload of malicious files and enable remote code execution.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 15th of December 2023.

According to CrowdSec data, while opportunistic exploitation dominates, a portion of threat actors trying to exploit CVE-2023-50164 apply basic targeting methods such as port or service detection. This indicates emerging patterns of selective targeting.
In addition, according to the CrowdSec network, attack volume against CVE-2023-50164 has dipped slightly compared to the previous week. Although still commonly targeted, the decline suggests a cooling-off period. Long-term relevance remains, but attention is waning.

Observed attempts are associated with crafted requests to the file upload functionality in vulnerable Struts deployments.

## Timeline

- 2023-12-07: CVE Published. CVE-2023-50164 is published to NVD.
- 2023-12-15: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-50164 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2024-12-16: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-50164 for the first time.

## References

- https://lists.apache.org/thread/yh09b3fkf6vz5d6jdgrlvmg60lfwtqhj
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/07/1
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231214-0010/

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-50164) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-50164. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.