CVE-2015-3192: Spring Framework Denial of Service Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6v7w-535j-rq5m
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CVSS 5.5
CWE-119
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-3192 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.5) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves pivotal spring framework dos attack with xml input. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.14, 4.1.7, 5.0.0.RC3.

CVE-2015-3192 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-3192
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6v7w-535j-rq5m
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.5
CWE Classification CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2015-3192

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-web fixed: 3.2.14 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-web</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.14</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-web fixed: 4.1.7 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-web</artifactId>
    <version>4.1.7</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-web fixed: 5.0.0.RC3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-web</artifactId>
    <version>5.0.0.RC3</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-2015-3192, 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 3.2.14), 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-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, where the product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary. this may result in read or write operations on unexpected memory locations that could be linked to other variables, data structures, or internal program 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

Pivotal Spring Framework before 3.2.14 and 4.x before 4.1.7 do not properly process inline DTD declarations when DTD is not entirely disabled, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and out-of-memory errors) via a crafted XML file.

CVE-2015-3192 Affected Spring Framework Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.144.1.75.0.0.RC3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework:spring-web
maven/org.springframework/spring-web
Maven
< 3.2.14
3.2.14
org.springframework:spring-web
maven/org.springframework/spring-web
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.1.7
4.1.7
org.springframework:spring-web
maven/org.springframework/spring-web
Maven
≥ 5.0.0.RC2
< 5.0.0.RC3
All 1 versions
5.0.0.RC2
5.0.0.RC3

References

NVD — CVE-2015-3192 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3192
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/issues/17727
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/issues/20352
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/0411435bac835de88a80a64b3f67b1b89244e907
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/38b8262e1e2db9be9d2171d81547da5c65ba7e09
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/5a711c05ec750f069235597173084c2ee7962424
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/9c3580d04e84d25a90ef4c249baee1b4e02df15e
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/d79ec68db40c381b8e205af52748ebd3163ee33b
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/e4651d6b50c5bc85c84ff537859c212ac4e33434
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://spring.io/security/cve-2015-3192
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/07/msg00012.html
jira.spring.io/browse/spr-13136 WEB
https://jira.spring.io/browse/SPR-13136?redirect=false
jira.spring.io/browse/spr-13136 WEB
https://jira.spring.io/browse/SPR-13136
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6v7w-535j-rq5m
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016:12... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1219
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016:12... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1218
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/162015.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/162017.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-15... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1592.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-15... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1593.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-20... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2035.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-20... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2036.html
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90853
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036587

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-3192?
CVE-2015-3192 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Pivotal Spring Framework DoS Attack with XML Input under CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.14, 4.1.7, 5.0.0.RC3 across affected packages: org.springframework:spring-web.
What version fixes CVE-2015-3192?
Upgrading to 3.2.14, 4.1.7, 5.0.0.RC3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-web affected?
Yes, org.springframework:spring-web is affected in releases prior to 3.2.14, 4.1.7, 5.0.0.RC3. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.14, 4.1.7, 5.0.0.RC3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2015-3192?
CVE-2015-3192 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-3192?
CVE-2015-3192 is classified under CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer (The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary. This may result in read or write operations on unexpected memory locations that could be linked to other variables, data structures, or internal program data.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2015-3192?
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 
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