The REST Plugin in Apache Struts 2.1.x, 2.3.7 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.12 is using an outdated XStream library which is vulnerable and allow perform a DoS attack using malicious request with specially crafted XML payload.

In Apache Struts 2.3.7 through 2.3.33 and 2.5 through 2.5.12, if an application allows entering a URL in a form field and built-in URLValidator is used, it is possible to prepare a special URL which will be used to overload server process when performing validation of the URL. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for S2-047 / CVE-2017-7672.

Apache Struts 2.x before 2.3.24.1 allows remote attackers to manipulate Struts internals, alter user sessions, or affect container settings via vectors involving a top object.