Vulnerability

CVE-2016-3081

High· 8.1KEVEXPLOITCVSS8.1EPSS96%

.rules3/5

Apache Struts 2.3.19 to 2.3.20.2, 2.3.21 to 2.3.24.1, and 2.3.25 to 2.3.28, when Dynamic Method Invocation is enabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via method: prefix, related to chained expressions.

Threat signal

100/100

Severe

Severity

high

CVSS

8.1

EPSS

96%

Active

KEV

CISA KEV — actively exploited

11d overdue

AffectedApache — Struts

Added to KEV

2026-10-08

Federal patch due (BOD 22-01)

2026-10-11

Required action (CISA verbatim)

Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

Vendor advisory + references

CISA description: “Apache Struts contains a command injection vulnerability that could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via method:prefix when Dynamic Method Invocation is enabled.”

CVSS

v3.1via NVDOpen in FIRST calculator →

8.1/ 10HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack VectorNetworkExploitable remotely over the internet — no local access needed.
Attack ComplexityHighRequires conditions outside attacker's control (race, brute-force, configuration
Privileges RequiredNoneUnauthenticated — no credentials needed.
User InteractionNoneFully automated — no victim action needed.
ScopeUnchangedImpact contained to the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality ImpactHighTotal disclosure of sensitive data.
Integrity ImpactHighTotal compromise of integrity — full data modification possible.
Availability ImpactHighTotal loss of availability — full DoS possible.

EPSS

Exploit prediction · 30-day horizonFIRST.org →

96.0%

probability of exploitation in next 30 days

p100

higher than 100% of all CVEs

9-day trend↑ 0pp

Statistically about to be weaponized — top-tier triage urgency.

Vendor VEX

No VEX statements published for CVE-2016-3081. Vendors publish VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) to assert per-product whether a CVE is actually exploitable in their distribution.

SSVCAct

Active exploitation with total impact on essential/support systems

exploitation: active
automatable: yes
impact: total
mission: support

Lifecycle

2016-04-26Published
2026-10-08Added to CISA KEVransomware: Unknown
2026-10-08Public exploit observedexploitdb, metasploit
2026-10-08Vendor advisory · cisa-aaaa26-281a — Chinese Government-linked Cyber Threat Actors Combine Automated and Hands-on Hac
2026-10-09Last modified2 sources
2026-10-11Federal patch due (BOD 22-01)

Entity graph

2 nodes · 1 edges · click to pivot

CVEActorVendor advisoryIOCNews

Vendor advisories

cisa-aaaa26-281aChinese Government-linked Cyber Threat Actors Combine Automated and Hands-on Hacking Tools to Steal Sensitive Data

CVE-2016-3081

CISA KEV — actively exploited

CVSS

EPSS

Vendor VEX

Lifecycle

Entity graph

Vendor advisories

References

CVE-2016-3081

CISA KEV — actively exploited

CVSS

EPSS

Vendor VEX

Lifecycle

Entity graph

Vendor advisories

References