CVE-2014-0225: Spring Framework Improper Restriction Of XML External Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f93f-g33r-8pcp
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-0225 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) improper restriction of xml external vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper restriction of xml external entity reference in spring framework. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.5, 3.2.8.

CVE-2014-0225 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-0225
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f93f-g33r-8pcp
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2014-0225

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-webmvc fixed: 4.0.5 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-webmvc</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.5</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-webmvc fixed: 3.2.8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-webmvc</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.8</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-2014-0225, 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 4.0.5), 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-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, where the product processes an xml document that can contain xml entities with uris that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. 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 processing user provided XML documents, the Spring Framework 4.0.0 to 4.0.4, 3.0.0 to 3.2.8, and possibly earlier unsupported versions did not disable by default the resolution of URI references in a DTD declaration. This enabled an XXE attack.

CVE-2014-0225 Affected Spring Framework Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.53.2.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework:spring-webmvc
maven/org.springframework/spring-webmvc
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.0.5
4.0.5
org.springframework:spring-webmvc
maven/org.springframework/spring-webmvc
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.2.8
3.2.8

References

NVD — CVE-2014-0225 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0225
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/44ee51a6c9c3734b3fcf9a20817117e86047d753
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/8e096aeef55287dc829484996c9330cf755891a1
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/c6503ebbf7c9e21ff022c58706dbac5417b2b5eb
jira.spring.io/browse/spr-11768 WEB
https://jira.spring.io/browse/SPR-11768
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2014-0225

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-0225?
CVE-2014-0225 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Spring Framework under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.5, 3.2.8 across affected packages: org.springframework:spring-webmvc.
What version fixes CVE-2014-0225?
Upgrading to 4.0.5, 3.2.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-webmvc affected?
Yes, org.springframework:spring-webmvc is affected in releases prior to 4.0.5, 3.2.8. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.5, 3.2.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2014-0225?
CVE-2014-0225 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-0225?
CVE-2014-0225 is classified under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2014-0225?
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-f93f-g33r-8pcp",
  "modified" : "2024-02-27T23:55:20Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:02:39Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-0225" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Spring Framework",
  "details" : "When processing user provided XML documents, the Spring Framework 4.0.0 to 4.0.4, 3.0.0 to 3.2.8, and possibly earlier unsupported versions did not disable by default the resolution of URI references in a DTD declaration. This enabled an XXE attack.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework:spring-webmvc"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework:spring-webmvc"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0225"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/44ee51a6c9c3734b3fcf9a20817117e86047d753"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/8e096aeef55287dc829484996c9330cf755891a1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/c6503ebbf7c9e21ff022c58706dbac5417b2b5eb"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.spring.io/browse/SPR-11768"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2014-0225"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-07T22:58:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-05-25T17:29:00Z"
  }
}