Critical Apache Struts 2 XXE Vulnerability: What Business Leaders Need to Know About CVE-2025-68493

A newly discovered critical vulnerability in Apache Struts 2 is sending shockwaves through the enterprise application security community. The flaw, identified as CVE-2025-68493, represents a significant threat to organizations worldwide that rely on this widely deployed Java web application framework. This XML External Entity (XXE) injection vulnerability has the potential to expose sensitive corporate data, compromise server infrastructure, and disrupt business operations across millions of applications.

For business leaders, IT managers, and security professionals, understanding this vulnerability and taking immediate action is not optional—it’s critical. This comprehensive guide will help you understand the technical details of the vulnerability, assess your organization’s risk exposure, and implement effective remediation strategies to protect your business assets.

Understanding the Vulnerability: Technical Background

Apache Struts 2 is one of the most popular open-source frameworks for developing Java web applications. Used by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and organizations of all sizes, it provides developers with a robust platform for building enterprise-grade applications. However, this widespread adoption also means that vulnerabilities in the framework can have far-reaching consequences.

What is XXE Injection?

XML External Entity (XXE) injection is a web security vulnerability that allows attackers to interfere with an application’s processing of XML data. When an application parses XML input that contains references to external entities, and the XML parser is configured insecurely, attackers can exploit this functionality to:

  • Read arbitrary files from the server’s filesystem
  • Perform Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks
  • Execute denial-of-service attacks
  • Potentially achieve remote code execution in certain configurations

The vulnerability discovered in Apache Struts 2 specifically affects the XWork component, which is responsible for handling XML configuration parsing. The component’s failure to properly validate XML input creates an attack vector that sophisticated threat actors can exploit to compromise affected systems.

CVE-2025-68493: The Technical Details

Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2025-68493
Vulnerability Type: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection
Affected Component: XWork XML Configuration Parser
Severity Rating: Important/Critical
Discovery Credit: ZAST.AI Security Research Team

The vulnerability exists in how the XWork component processes XML configuration files. Under normal circumstances, XML parsers should be configured to disallow references to external entities. However, the affected versions of Apache Struts 2 fail to implement these protections properly, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can be used to:

  1. Extract Sensitive Files: Attackers can reference local files on the server, such as /etc/passwd on Linux systems or configuration files containing database credentials, API keys, and other sensitive information.
  2. Perform SSRF Attacks: By manipulating the XML parser to make requests to internal network resources, attackers can probe and potentially compromise internal systems that are normally protected by network segmentation.
  3. Launch DoS Attacks: Malicious XML payloads can be crafted to consume excessive server resources, causing application slowdowns or complete service disruption.

Affected Versions: Is Your Organization at Risk?

The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apache Struts 2 versions, including many that organizations may still be running in production environments:

Legacy Versions (End-of-Life)

  • Apache Struts 2.0.0 through 2.3.37: These older versions have been end-of-life for several years but remain in use at many organizations due to application dependencies or delayed migration projects.
  • Apache Struts 2.5.0 through 2.5.33: While more recent than the 2.3 branch, these versions also reached end-of-life and should be considered high-priority targets for replacement.

Currently Supported Versions

  • Apache Struts 6.0.0 through 6.1.0: Even the latest generation of Struts 2 is affected, highlighting that this is not simply a legacy system problem.

Critical Assessment Questions

To determine if your organization is at risk, security teams should immediately answer these questions:

  1. Do we have any applications running on Apache Struts 2?
  2. Which versions of Struts 2 are deployed in our environment?
  3. Are these applications exposed to the internet or only accessible internally?
  4. Do these applications process XML input from untrusted sources?
  5. What sensitive data do these applications have access to?
  6. Are there any compensating security controls in place?

Potential Impact: Understanding the Business Risk

The exploitation of CVE-2025-68493 can have severe consequences for organizations across multiple dimensions:

Data Confidentiality Breaches

The most immediate risk is unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially extract:

  • Database Credentials: Connection strings and authentication credentials stored in configuration files
  • API Keys and Tokens: Third-party service credentials that could lead to further compromise
  • Application Source Code: Proprietary business logic and intellectual property
  • Customer Data: Personal information, payment details, and other sensitive customer records
  • Internal Documentation: System architecture details, security procedures, and other operational intelligence

For organizations operating under regulatory frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or SOX, a data breach resulting from this vulnerability could trigger mandatory breach notification requirements, regulatory investigations, and significant financial penalties.

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

Beyond data exfiltration, the XXE vulnerability enables SSRF attacks that can compromise internal network security:

  • Internal Port Scanning: Attackers can probe internal network infrastructure to identify additional vulnerable systems
  • Cloud Metadata Access: In cloud environments, SSRF can be used to access instance metadata services, potentially exposing cloud credentials
  • Internal Service Exploitation: Previously protected internal services may become accessible to external attackers
  • Lateral Movement: Compromised systems can serve as pivot points for broader network intrusion

Denial of Service (DoS)

While perhaps less dramatic than data theft, DoS attacks can be equally damaging to business operations:

  • Application Unavailability: Critical business applications may become unresponsive
  • Customer Service Disruption: E-commerce platforms, customer portals, and service delivery systems could fail
  • Reputational Damage: Extended outages erode customer trust and brand reputation
  • Financial Impact: Lost transactions, SLA violations, and emergency response costs

Supply Chain Implications

Organizations that provide services to other businesses face additional risks:

  • Customer Impact: Vulnerabilities in your systems could affect your customers’ operations
  • Contractual Liabilities: Security breaches may trigger contractual penalties or liability clauses
  • Loss of Business: Customers may terminate relationships or demand security audits
  • Insurance Implications: Cyber insurance policies may be affected by failure to patch known vulnerabilities

Historical Context: Why Apache Struts Vulnerabilities Matter

This is not the first critical vulnerability to affect Apache Struts, and understanding the historical context is important for appreciating the urgency of the current situation.

The Equifax Breach (2017)

Perhaps the most infamous example is the 2017 Equifax data breach, which exposed the personal information of 147 million people. The breach was caused by Equifax’s failure to patch CVE-2017-5638, an Apache Struts 2 remote code execution vulnerability. The incident resulted in:

  • $700 million in settlements and fines
  • Resignation of top executives including the CEO
  • Lasting damage to corporate reputation
  • Congressional investigations and regulatory scrutiny

Lessons from Past Incidents

Historical Struts vulnerabilities have consistently demonstrated that:

  1. Exploitation Happens Quickly: Within days of disclosure, exploit code becomes widely available
  2. Automated Scanning is Prevalent: Attackers use automated tools to identify vulnerable systems at scale
  3. Patching Delays are Costly: Organizations that delay patching become priority targets
  4. Supply Chain Effects Multiply Risk: Vulnerabilities in widely-used frameworks have cascading effects

Immediate Action Plan: What Organizations Must Do Now

Given the severity of CVE-2025-68493 and the history of Struts vulnerabilities, organizations must take immediate action. Here’s a comprehensive action plan:

Phase 1: Discovery and Assessment (Day 1)

Inventory Your Environment

  • Conduct an emergency scan to identify all systems running Apache Struts 2
  • Document the versions of Struts deployed across your infrastructure
  • Identify which applications are internet-facing versus internal-only
  • Map data flows to understand what sensitive information these applications access

Assess Risk Exposure

  • Prioritize applications based on data sensitivity and internet exposure
  • Review application logs for signs of exploitation attempts
  • Evaluate existing security controls (WAF rules, IPS signatures, etc.)
  • Determine which systems can be patched immediately versus those requiring testing

Phase 2: Immediate Mitigation (Days 1-3)

Apply the Official Patch Apache has released Struts 6.1.1 as the remediated version. Organizations running Struts 6.x should prioritize immediate upgrade:

  1. Test the Upgrade: In a development environment, verify that upgrading to 6.1.1 doesn’t break application functionality
  2. Plan Deployment Window: Schedule maintenance windows for production upgrades
  3. Execute Rollout: Deploy the patched version with proper backup and rollback procedures
  4. Verify Remediation: Confirm that applications are running the patched version

Implement Workarounds for Legacy Systems For organizations unable to upgrade immediately, temporary mitigations can reduce risk:

Option 1: Custom SAXParserFactory Configuration Configure a custom SAXParserFactory that disables external entities:

java
// Set the custom parser factory
System.setProperty("xwork.saxParserFactory", 
    "com.yourcompany.security.SecureSAXParserFactory");

// Implement the secure factory
public class SecureSAXParserFactory extends SAXParserFactory {
    @Override
    public SAXParser newSAXParser() throws ParserConfigurationException {
        SAXParserFactory factory = SAXParserFactory.newInstance();
        factory.setFeature("http://xml.org/sax/features/external-general-entities", false);
        factory.setFeature("http://xml.org/sax/features/external-parameter-entities", false);
        factory.setFeature("http://apache.org/xml/features/disallow-doctype-decl", true);
        return factory.newSAXParser();
    }
}

Option 2: JVM-Level Protection Configure JVM system properties to disable external entities globally:

bash
-Djavax.xml.accessExternalDTD=""
-Djavax.xml.accessExternalSchema=""
-Djavax.xml.accessExternalStylesheet=""

These properties should be added to your application server configuration or startup scripts.

Phase 3: Enhanced Monitoring (Ongoing)

Implement Active Threat Detection

  • Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting XXE attack patterns
  • Enable detailed application logging to capture XML processing activities
  • Configure SIEM alerts for suspicious XML payloads or unusual file access patterns
  • Monitor for unexpected outbound connections that might indicate SSRF exploitation

Regular Security Scanning

  • Schedule weekly vulnerability scans focused on Struts components
  • Implement continuous application security testing (CAST) in CI/CD pipelines
  • Conduct penetration testing to validate remediation effectiveness

Phase 4: Long-Term Strategy (Weeks to Months)

Application Modernization For organizations running end-of-life Struts versions, develop a strategic migration plan:

  1. Assess Migration Complexity: Evaluate the effort required to upgrade or replace legacy applications
  2. Prioritize Based on Risk: Focus first on internet-facing applications handling sensitive data
  3. Consider Alternatives: Evaluate whether to upgrade Struts or migrate to modern frameworks
  4. Allocate Resources: Secure budget and personnel for major upgrade initiatives

Security Architecture Enhancement

  • Implement defense-in-depth strategies that don’t rely solely on application-level security
  • Deploy network segmentation to limit the impact of application compromise
  • Establish Zero Trust architecture principles for application access
  • Enhance secrets management to minimize exposure of credentials in configuration files

Special Considerations for Different Industries

Different sectors face unique challenges in responding to this vulnerability:

Financial Services

  • Regulatory compliance requirements (PCI-DSS, SOX) mandate rapid remediation
  • Customer data exposure could trigger GLBA breach notification requirements
  • High-value targets for sophisticated threat actors
  • May require emergency change approval processes

Healthcare

  • HIPAA regulations impose strict timelines for vulnerability remediation
  • Patient data exposure carries severe penalties
  • Mission-critical applications may require careful maintenance windows
  • Legacy medical systems often use older framework versions

E-Commerce

  • Direct financial impact from application downtime
  • Customer trust implications of data breaches
  • Peak season considerations may affect patching schedules
  • PCI-DSS compliance mandates timely patching

Government

  • Sensitive data and national security implications
  • Extended approval processes may slow remediation
  • Legacy systems are common in government IT
  • Public disclosure requirements for breaches

Communication Strategy: Keeping Stakeholders Informed

Effective communication is crucial during a vulnerability response:

Internal Communication

  • Executive Leadership: Brief on business risk, response plan, and resource requirements
  • IT Operations: Coordinate maintenance windows and deployment procedures
  • Application Teams: Engage developers for testing and deployment support
  • Security Team: Ensure incident response readiness and monitoring capabilities

External Communication

  • Customers: Prepare proactive notifications if exposure is identified
  • Partners: Inform business partners if shared systems are affected
  • Auditors: Document remediation efforts for compliance purposes
  • Insurance Providers: Notify cyber insurance carriers as policies may require

Conclusion: Taking Action to Protect Your Organization

CVE-2025-68493 represents a critical threat to organizations using Apache Struts 2, but it’s a manageable risk for those who act decisively. The key takeaways for business leaders are:

  1. Assess Your Exposure Immediately: Don’t wait—identify affected systems today
  2. Patch Without Delay: Upgrade to Struts 6.1.1 or implement workarounds for legacy systems
  3. Enhance Monitoring: Deploy detection capabilities to identify exploitation attempts
  4. Plan for the Long Term: Use this incident as a catalyst for application modernization
  5. Learn from History: Past Struts vulnerabilities show that rapid action prevents disasters

The organizations that will emerge unscathed from this vulnerability are those that treat it with appropriate urgency. Those that delay or deprioritize remediation risk joining the long list of breach victims who learned too late that application security cannot be deferred.

How SafetyBIS Can Help

At SafetyBIS, we understand that vulnerability management is just one component of a comprehensive security strategy. Our team of experienced security professionals can assist your organization with:

  • Emergency Vulnerability Assessment: Rapid identification of affected systems in your environment
  • Remediation Planning: Development of customized patching strategies aligned with your business requirements
  • Application Security Testing: Comprehensive assessment of your web applications for vulnerabilities
  • Security Architecture Review: Evaluation and enhancement of defense-in-depth strategies
  • Incident Response Planning: Preparation for potential security incidents
  • Compliance Support: Documentation and evidence collection for regulatory requirements

Don’t wait until a breach occurs to take security seriously. Contact SafetyBIS today to discuss how we can help protect your organization from CVE-2025-68493 and future threats.

About SafetyBIS: SafetyBIS is a leading provider of business information security solutions, helping organizations of all sizes protect their critical assets, maintain regulatory compliance, and build resilient security programs. Our team combines deep technical expertise with business acumen to deliver practical, effective security solutions.

Need Immediate Assistance? If you believe your organization may be affected by CVE-2025-68493, contact our emergency response team for immediate support and guidance.