CVE-2020-5408: Spring Framework Insufficient Entropy Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2ppp-9496-p23q
Share
CVSS 6.5
CWE-330 CWE-329
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-5408 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) insufficient entropy vulnerability (CWE-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves insufficient entropy in spring security. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.3.2, 5.2.4, 5.1.10, 5.0.16, 4.2.16.

CVE-2020-5408 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-5408
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2ppp-9496-p23q
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
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-2020-5408

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.security:spring-security-core fixed: 5.3.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-security-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.3.2</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core fixed: 5.2.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-security-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.2.4</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core fixed: 5.1.10 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-security-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.1.10</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core fixed: 5.0.16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-security-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.0.16</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core fixed: 4.2.16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-security-core</artifactId>
    <version>4.2.16</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.security

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-5408, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

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 5.3.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.security 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-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values, where the product uses insufficiently random numbers or values in a security context that depends on unpredictable numbers. 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

Spring Security versions 5.3.x prior to 5.3.2, 5.2.x prior to 5.2.4, 5.1.x prior to 5.1.10, 5.0.x prior to 5.0.16 and 4.2.x prior to 4.2.16 use a fixed null initialization vector with CBC Mode in the implementation of the queryable text encryptor. A malicious user with access to the data that has been encrypted using such an encryptor may be able to derive the unencrypted values using a dictionary attack.

CVE-2020-5408 Affected Spring Framework Versions

5 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.3.25.2.45.1.105.0.164.2.16
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core
maven/org.springframework.security/spring-security-core
Maven
≥ 5.3.0
< 5.3.2
5.3.2
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core
maven/org.springframework.security/spring-security-core
Maven
≥ 5.2.0
< 5.2.4
5.2.4
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core
maven/org.springframework.security/spring-security-core
Maven
≥ 5.1.0
< 5.1.10
5.1.10
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core
maven/org.springframework.security/spring-security-core
Maven
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.0.16
5.0.16
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core
maven/org.springframework.security/spring-security-core
Maven
< 4.2.16
4.2.16

References

NVD — CVE-2020-5408 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5408
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2020-5408
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-5408?
CVE-2020-5408 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Insufficient Entropy in Spring Security under CWE-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.3.2, 5.2.4, 5.1.10, 5.0.16, 4.2.16 across affected packages: org.springframework.security:spring-security-core.
What version fixes CVE-2020-5408?
Upgrading to 5.3.2, 5.2.4, 5.1.10, 5.0.16, 4.2.16 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-security-core affected?
Yes, org.springframework.security:spring-security-core is affected in releases prior to 5.3.2, 5.2.4, 5.1.10, 5.0.16, 4.2.16. Upgrade your dependency to 5.3.2, 5.2.4, 5.1.10, 5.0.16, 4.2.16 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-5408?
CVE-2020-5408 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-5408?
CVE-2020-5408 is classified under CWE-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values (The product uses insufficiently random numbers or values in a security context that depends on unpredictable numbers.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-5408?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.security'. 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-2ppp-9496-p23q",
  "modified" : "2021-06-09T20:15:25Z",
  "published" : "2020-06-15T19:34:31Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-5408" ],
  "summary" : "Insufficient Entropy in Spring Security",
  "details" : "Spring Security versions 5.3.x prior to 5.3.2, 5.2.x prior to 5.2.4, 5.1.x prior to 5.1.10, 5.0.x prior to 5.0.16 and 4.2.x prior to 4.2.16 use a fixed null initialization vector with CBC Mode in the implementation of the queryable text encryptor. A malicious user with access to the data that has been encrypted using such an encryptor may be able to derive the unencrypted values using a dictionary attack.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.3.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.2.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.1.10"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.0.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.2.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5408"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2020-5408"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-329", "CWE-330" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-11T20:44:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-05-14T18:15:00Z"
  }
}