CVE-2016-2173: Spring Framework Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hrp3-8p5w-27gv
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-2173 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper input validation in spring amqp. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.5.5.

CVE-2016-2173 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-2173
GHSA Identifier GHSA-hrp3-8p5w-27gv
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:H).

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 High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-2173

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.amqp:spring-amqp fixed: 1.5.5 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.amqp</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-amqp</artifactId>
    <version>1.5.5</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.amqp

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-2173, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

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 1.5.5), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.amqp 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. 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

org.springframework.core.serializer.DefaultDeserializer in Spring AMQP before 1.5.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.

CVE-2016-2173 Affected Spring Framework Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.5.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.amqp:spring-amqp
maven/org.springframework.amqp/spring-amqp
Maven
< 1.5.5
1.5.5

References

NVD — CVE-2016-2173 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2173
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1326205
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2016-2173
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-April/182551.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-April/182850.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-April/182959.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-2173?
CVE-2016-2173 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Improper Input Validation in Spring AMQP under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.5.5 across affected packages: org.springframework.amqp:spring-amqp.
What version fixes CVE-2016-2173?
Upgrading to 1.5.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-amqp affected?
Yes, org.springframework.amqp:spring-amqp is affected in releases prior to 1.5.5. Upgrade your dependency to 1.5.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-2173?
CVE-2016-2173 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-2173?
CVE-2016-2173 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-2173?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.amqp'. 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-hrp3-8p5w-27gv",
  "modified" : "2022-07-06T20:01:55Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:26:13Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-2173" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Input Validation in Spring AMQP",
  "details" : "org.springframework.core.serializer.DefaultDeserializer in Spring AMQP before 1.5.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.amqp:spring-amqp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.5.5"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 1.5.4"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2173"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1326205"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2016-2173"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-April/182551.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-April/182850.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-April/182959.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T20:01:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-04-21T20:59:00Z"
  }
}