CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-22733NVD status: Analyzed

Spring Security: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-22733 is a high-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in Spring Security from Spring, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Spring Security versions: 4.0.0 through 4.0.3; 3.5.0 through 3.5.11; 3.4.0 through 3.4.14, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Spring Boot to 2.7.32 or 3.3.18 or 3.4.15 or 3.5.12, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on spring.io for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
SpringSpring Security4.0.0 through 4.0.3; 3.5.0 through 3.5.11; 3.4.0 through 3.4.14; 3.3.0 through 3.3.17; 2.7.0 through 2.7.31Not stated
VMwareSpring Bootbefore 2.7.32; 3.3.0 up to, but not including, 3.3.18; 3.4.0 up to, but not including, 3.4.15; 3.5.0 up to, but not including, 3.5.12; 4.0.0 up to, but not including, 4.0.42.7.32, 3.3.18, 3.4.15, 3.5.12, 4.0.4

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
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.2HighCNA (vmware.com)
CVSS 3.18.1HighNVD

Official description

Spring Boot applications with Actuator can be vulnerable to an "Authentication Bypass" vulnerability when an application endpoint that requires authentication is declared under the path used by the CloudFoundry Actuator endpoints. This issue affects Spring Security: from 4.0.0 through 4.0.3, from 3.5.0 through 3.5.11, from 3.4.0 through 3.4.14, from 3.3.0 through 3.3.17, from 2.7.0 through 2.7.31.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Funnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.

More Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities (CWE-288)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Spring Security

All Spring Security vulnerabilities

Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities

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