CVE-2026-40982: Spring Framework Path Traversal Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6g23-24mc-hx6x
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CVSS 9.1
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-40982 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.1) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves spring cloud config vulnerable to path traversal. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.3.3, 5.0.3.

CVE-2026-40982 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-40982
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6g23-24mc-hx6x
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.1
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.1

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:H/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 High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-40982

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-2026-40982, 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. 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 Cloud Config allows applications to serve arbitrary text and binary files through the spring-cloud-config-server module. A malicious user, or attacker, can send a request using a specially crafted URL that can lead to a directory traversal attack. 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-2026-40982 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
≤ 3.1.13
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-2026-40982 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40982
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-cloud/spring-cloud-config
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-40982

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-40982?
CVE-2026-40982 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Spring Cloud Config vulnerable to Path Traversal under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
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-2026-40982?
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-2026-40982?
CVE-2026-40982 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-40982?
CVE-2026-40982 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-40982?
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-6g23-24mc-hx6x",
  "modified" : "2026-06-11T14:50:14Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-07T06:31:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-40982" ],
  "summary" : "Spring Cloud Config vulnerable to Path Traversal",
  "details" : "Spring Cloud Config allows applications to serve arbitrary text and binary files through the spring-cloud-config-server module. A malicious user, or attacker, can send a request using a specially crafted URL that can lead to a directory traversal attack.\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:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "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-2026-40982"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-cloud/spring-cloud-config"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-40982"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-11T16:19:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-07T04:16:24Z"
  }
}