Spring Security: Improper Access Control
CVE-2024-22234 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in Spring Security from Spring, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.4 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 6.1.7, 6.2.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating Spring Security to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.68% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 53% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Spring Security to 6.1.7 or 6.2.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update spring_security to 6.1.7 or 6.2.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on spring.io for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Spring Security | 6.1.x up to, but not including, 6.1.7; 6.2.x up to, but not including, 6.2.2 | 6.1.7, 6.2.2 |
| VMware | spring_security | 6.1.0 up to, but not including, 6.1.7; 6.2.0 up to, but not including, 6.2.2 | 6.1.7, 6.2.2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.4 | High | CNA (vmware.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.4 | High | NVD |
Official description
In Spring Security, versions 6.1.x prior to 6.1.7 and versions 6.2.x prior to 6.2.2, an application is vulnerable to broken access control when it directly uses the AuthenticationTrustResolver.isFullyAuthenticated(Authentication) method. Specifically, an application is vulnerable if: * The application uses AuthenticationTrustResolver.isFullyAuthenticated(Authentication) directly and a null authentication parameter is passed to it resulting in an erroneous true return value. An application is not vulnerable if any of the following is true: * The application does not use AuthenticationTrustResolver.isFullyAuthenticated(Authentication) directly. * The application does not pass null to AuthenticationTrustResolver.isFullyAuthenticated * The application only uses isFullyAuthenticated via Method Security https://docs.spring.io/spring-security/reference/servlet/authorization/method-security.html or HTTP Request Security https://docs.spring.io/spring-security/reference/servlet/authorization/authorize-http-requests.html
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240315-0003/Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Spring Security
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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