
CVE-2018-11776 is a security vulnerability in Apache Struts, a popular framework for developing web applications. This vulnerability allows attackers to carry out remote attacks by injecting malicious code into data fields of HTTP requests. This vulnerability has been widely exploited in cyberattacks worldwide, causing significant damage to organizations and individuals.
Cause: CVE-2018-11776 results from a programming error in the OGNL (Object-Graph Navigation Language) library used in Apache Struts to process conditional expressions. This error allows attackers to inject malicious code into conditional expressions by inserting special characters into data fields of HTTP requests.
Impact: This vulnerability allows attackers to carry out remote attacks, potentially compromising systems, stealing sensitive information, or executing other malicious actions. Organizations and individuals that do not patch this vulnerability may be attacked and suffer various damages, such as loss of important information, financial loss, or reputational harm. This vulnerability has been widely exploited in cyberattacks worldwide.
For example, in the Equifax attack of 2017, this attack led to the leak of personal information of millions of users. The impact of this vulnerability persists to the present day, as organizations and individuals still need to update and patch their systems to prevent similar attacks.