CVE-2023-20861: Spring Framework Denial of Service Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-564r-hj7v-mcr5
Share
CVSS 6.5
CWE-917 CWE-400
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-20861 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves spring framework vulnerable to denial of service via specially crafted spel expression. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 6.0.7, 5.3.26, 5.2.23.RELEASE.

CVE-2023-20861 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-20861
GHSA Identifier GHSA-564r-hj7v-mcr5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
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:N/I:N/A:H).

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 None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-20861

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:spring-expression fixed: 6.0.7 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-expression</artifactId>
    <version>6.0.7</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-expression fixed: 5.3.26 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-expression</artifactId>
    <version>5.3.26</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-expression fixed: 5.2.23.RELEASE 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-expression</artifactId>
    <version>5.2.23.RELEASE</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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-20861, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework

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 6.0.7), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework 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-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an expression language (el) statement in a framework such as a java server page (jsp) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended el statement before it is executed. 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

In Spring Framework versions 6.0.0 - 6.0.6, 5.3.0 - 5.3.25, 5.2.0.RELEASE - 5.2.22.RELEASE, and older unsupported versions, it is possible for a user to provide a specially crafted SpEL expression that may cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.

CVE-2023-20861 Affected Spring Framework Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
6.0.75.3.265.2.23.RELEASE
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework:spring-expression
maven/org.springframework/spring-expression
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.0.7
6.0.7
org.springframework:spring-expression
maven/org.springframework/spring-expression
Maven
≥ 5.3.0
< 5.3.26
5.3.26
org.springframework:spring-expression
maven/org.springframework/spring-expression
Maven
< 5.2.23.RELEASE
5.2.23.RELEASE

References

NVD — CVE-2023-20861 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20861
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/430fc25acad2e85cbdddcd52b64481691f03ebd1
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/52c93b1c4b24d70de233a958e60e7c5822bd274f
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/935c29e3ddba5b19951e54f6685c70ed45d9cbe5
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230420-0007
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://spring.io/security/cve-2023-20861

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-20861?
CVE-2023-20861 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Spring Framework vulnerable to denial of service via specially crafted SpEL expression under CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection').
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 6.0.7, 5.3.26, 5.2.23.RELEASE across affected packages: org.springframework:spring-expression.
What version fixes CVE-2023-20861?
Upgrading to 6.0.7, 5.3.26, 5.2.23.RELEASE (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-expression affected?
Yes, org.springframework:spring-expression is affected in releases prior to 6.0.7, 5.3.26, 5.2.23.RELEASE. Upgrade your dependency to 6.0.7, 5.3.26, 5.2.23.RELEASE or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-20861?
CVE-2023-20861 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:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-20861?
CVE-2023-20861 is classified under CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an expression language (EL) statement in a framework such as a Java Server Page (JSP) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended EL statement before it is executed.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-20861?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework'. 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-564r-hj7v-mcr5",
  "modified" : "2024-03-14T20:51:28Z",
  "published" : "2023-03-23T21:30:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-20861" ],
  "summary" : "Spring Framework vulnerable to denial of service via specially crafted SpEL expression",
  "details" : "In Spring Framework versions 6.0.0 - 6.0.6, 5.3.0 - 5.3.25, 5.2.0.RELEASE - 5.2.22.RELEASE, and older unsupported versions, it is possible for a user to provide a specially crafted SpEL expression that may cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework:spring-expression"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.0.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework:spring-expression"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.3.26"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework:spring-expression"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.2.23.RELEASE"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20861"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/430fc25acad2e85cbdddcd52b64481691f03ebd1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/52c93b1c4b24d70de233a958e60e7c5822bd274f"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/935c29e3ddba5b19951e54f6685c70ed45d9cbe5"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230420-0007"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://spring.io/security/cve-2023-20861"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-400", "CWE-917" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-03-23T23:10:59Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-03-23T21:15:00Z"
  }
}