CVE-2026-40981: Spring Framework Spring Cloud Config Has An Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2mh5-3cw6-hrrq
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-639
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-40981 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) spring cloud config has an vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves spring cloud config has an authorization bypass through user-controlled key. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.3.3, 5.0.3.

CVE-2026-40981 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-40981
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2mh5-3cw6-hrrq
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-40981

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Spring Framework dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-config-server</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-config-server</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-config-server</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server fixed: 4.3.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-config-server</artifactId>
    <version>4.3.3</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server fixed: 5.0.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-config-server</artifactId>
    <version>5.0.3</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.cloud

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-40981, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.cloud

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Spring Framework in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.3.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.cloud command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, where the system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data. In Spring Framework, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

When using Google Secrets Manager as a backend for the Spring Cloud Config server a client can craft a request to the config server potentially exposing secrets from unintended GCP projects. Spring Cloud Config 3.1.x: affected from 3.1.0 through 3.1.13 (inclusive); upgrade to 3.1.14 or greater (Enterprise Support Only). Spring Cloud Config 4.1.x: affected from 4.1.0 through 4.1.9 (inclusive); upgrade to 4.1.10 or greater (Enterprise Support Only). Spring Cloud Config 4.2.x: affected from 4.2.0 through 4.2.6 (inclusive); upgrade to 4.2.7 or greater (Enterprise Support Only). Spring Cloud Config 4.3.x: affected from 4.3.0 through 4.3.2 (inclusive); upgrade to 4.3.3 or greater. Spring Cloud Config 5.0.x: affected from 5.0.0 through 5.0.2 (inclusive); upgrade to 5.0.3 or greater.

CVE-2026-40981 Affected Spring Framework Versions

5 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.3.35.0.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-config-server
Maven
≥ 3.1.0
≤ 3.1.13
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-config-server
Maven
≥ 4.1.0
≤ 4.1.9
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-config-server
Maven
≥ 4.2.0
≤ 4.2.6
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-config-server
Maven
≥ 4.3.0
< 4.3.3
4.3.3
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-config-server
Maven
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.0.3
5.0.3

References

NVD — CVE-2026-40981 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40981
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-cloud/spring-cloud-config
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-40981

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-40981?
CVE-2026-40981 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Spring Cloud Config has an Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.3.3, 5.0.3 across affected packages: org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server.
What version fixes CVE-2026-40981?
Upgrading to 4.3.3, 5.0.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-cloud-config-server affected?
Yes, org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release, 4.3.3, 5.0.3. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release, 4.3.3, 5.0.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-40981?
CVE-2026-40981 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-40981?
CVE-2026-40981 is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-40981?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.cloud'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2mh5-3cw6-hrrq",
  "modified" : "2026-06-11T14:48:18Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-07T06:31:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-40981" ],
  "summary" : "Spring Cloud Config has an Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key ",
  "details" : "When using Google Secrets Manager as a backend for the Spring Cloud Config server a client can craft a request to the config server potentially exposing secrets from unintended GCP projects.\nSpring Cloud Config 3.1.x: affected from 3.1.0 through 3.1.13 (inclusive); upgrade to 3.1.14 or greater (Enterprise Support Only). Spring Cloud Config 4.1.x: affected from 4.1.0 through 4.1.9 (inclusive); upgrade to 4.1.10 or greater (Enterprise Support Only). Spring Cloud Config 4.2.x: affected from 4.2.0 through 4.2.6 (inclusive); upgrade to 4.2.7 or greater (Enterprise Support Only). Spring Cloud Config 4.3.x: affected from 4.3.0 through 4.3.2 (inclusive); upgrade to 4.3.3 or greater. Spring Cloud Config 5.0.x: affected from 5.0.0 through 5.0.2 (inclusive); upgrade to 5.0.3 or greater.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.1.0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.1.13"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.1.0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "4.1.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.2.0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "4.2.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.3.3"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.3.2"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.0.3"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 5.0.2"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40981"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-cloud/spring-cloud-config"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-40981"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-11T16:19:03Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-07T04:16:24Z"
  }
}