Is CVE-2012-0391 actively exploited?

Yes. Previdian tracks CVE-2012-0391 as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is confirmed.

What exploitation activity has Previdian observed?

Previdian has not yet recorded sensor-observed exploitation attempts for CVE-2012-0391. Our sensors continue to monitor for activity targeting this CVE.

Which versions are affected?

Version-level data is not available; Previdian tracks Apache Struts.

Yes. CVE-2012-0391 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

CVE-2012-0391 Exploited in the Wild — Struts

Decision summary

What security teams need to know first

Direct answers before the deeper technical record.

What it is

CVE-2012-0391 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting Apache Struts. The ExceptionDelegator component in Apache Struts before 2.2.3.1 interprets parameter values as OGNL expressions during certain exception...

Is it exploited?

Yes. Previdian tracks this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is confirmed. Listed in CISA KEV.

Who is affected?

Apache / Struts.

What should we do?

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

Overview

Struts

The ExceptionDelegator component in Apache Struts before 2.2.3.1 interprets parameter values as OGNL expressions during certain exception handling for mismatched data types of properties, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via a crafted parameter.

View vendor advisory

Published: 08 Jan 2012
Exploitation Reported: 21 Jan 2022
Attack vector: Remote
Complexity: Low
Privileges: None
User interaction: None

CVE References

CVE Record CVE.org · CVE Record https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-0391
47393 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/47393
18329 exploit-db.com · Exploit http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/18329
20120105 SEC Consult SA-20120104-0 :: Multiple critical vulnerabilities in Apache Struts2 archives.neohapsis.com · Mailing List http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2012-01/0031.html
struts.apache.org/2.x/docs/version-notes-2311.html struts.apache.org · CVE Record http://struts.apache.org/2.x/docs/version-notes-2311.html
struts.apache.org/2.x/docs/s2-008.html struts.apache.org · CVE Record http://struts.apache.org/2.x/docs/s2-008.html
sec-consult.com/files/20120104-0_Apache_Struts2_Multiple_Cri... sec-consult.com · CVE Record https://www.sec-consult.com/files/20120104-0_Apache_Struts2_Multiple_...
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WW-3668 issues.apache.org · CVE Record https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WW-3668

Exploitation evidence

Why Previdian marks this CVE as exploited

Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.

Exploited in the wild

CISA

Recorded 21 Jan 2022

A trusted third party reported exploitation.

Proof of concept available

Recorded 28 Apr 2025

Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.

Known exploited vulnerability sources

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the Previdian Pro API.

Learn about Pro API access

Source	Added
CISA First	2022-01-21 00:00 UTC

Detection

Operational artifacts and observed signals

Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.

Observed signals

Request targets
User-Agents
Callback hosts: 0; 0; 0

Request targets and User-Agents available in Pro. Callback host details available in Enterprise.

Scanner coverage

Metasploit template detected 28 Apr 2025.

View Metasploit template

Virtual patch status

No Previdian virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.

Learn about virtual patches →

Scanner Artifacts

Scanner and exploit-framework references linked to this CVE.

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/struts_code_exec_exception_delegator.rb	28 Apr 2025

Risk and context

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

CVSS v3.1

9.8 Critical

Potential damage if exploited. Separate from whether attackers are using it.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

75.6%

Estimated chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Previdian's warning comes from evidence, not this score.

Weaknesses

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') CWE-94

All CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 9.8 Critical

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v2.0 9.3 High

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

struts_code_exec_exception_delegator

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2012-0391

Timeline

From disclosure to observed exploitation

28 Apr 2025
15:02 UTC

Metasploit module available

Exploit module available
28 Apr 2025
15:02 UTC

Public PoC available

Public proof-of-concept code published
21 Jan 2022
00:00 UTC

Added to CISA KEV

Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
08 Jan 2012
15:00 UTC

CVE published

Vulnerability disclosed publicly
08 Jan 2012
00:00 UTC

CVE ID reserved

Identifier reserved by the CNA

Pro API

Automate this intelligence

Confidence, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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Evidence confidence and provenance
First-party sensor telemetry
PoC and scanner references
Affected versions and enrichment
Automation-ready JSON delivery

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2012-0391

Free JSON includes basic KEV fields

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2012-0391",
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 9.8,
  "cvss_estimated": false,
  "epss_score": 0.75599,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}

CVE-2012-0391

Struts

Tags