CVE-2021-22044: Spring Framework Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pf94-6v2v-cm3j
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-668
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-22044 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves exposure of resource to wrong sphere in spring cloud openfeign. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.5, 2.2.10.

CVE-2021-22044 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-22044
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pf94-6v2v-cm3j
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-22044

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-openfeign-core fixed: 3.0.5 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-openfeign-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.5</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core fixed: 2.2.10 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-openfeign-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.2.10</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-2021-22044, 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 3.0.5), 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-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere, where the product exposes a resource to the wrong control sphere, providing unintended actors with inappropriate access to the resource. 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 Cloud OpenFeign 3.0.0 to 3.0.4, 2.2.0.RELEASE to 2.2.9.RELEASE, and older unsupported versions, applications using type-level `@RequestMapping`annotations over Feign client interfaces, can be involuntarily exposing endpoints corresponding to `@RequestMapping`-annotated interface methods.

CVE-2021-22044 Affected Spring Framework Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.0.52.2.10
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-openfeign-core
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.0.5
3.0.5
org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core
maven/org.springframework.cloud/spring-cloud-openfeign-core
Maven
≥ 2.2.0
< 2.2.10
2.2.10

References

NVD — CVE-2021-22044 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22044
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2021-22044

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-22044?
CVE-2021-22044 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere in Spring Cloud OpenFeign under CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.0.5, 2.2.10 across affected packages: org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core.
What version fixes CVE-2021-22044?
Upgrading to 3.0.5, 2.2.10 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-cloud-openfeign-core affected?
Yes, org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core is affected in releases prior to 3.0.5, 2.2.10. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.5, 2.2.10 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-22044?
CVE-2021-22044 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-22044?
CVE-2021-22044 is classified under CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere (The product exposes a resource to the wrong control sphere, providing unintended actors with inappropriate access to the resource.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-22044?
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-pf94-6v2v-cm3j",
  "modified" : "2022-06-22T18:37:06Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T19:19:03Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-22044" ],
  "summary" : "Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere in Spring Cloud OpenFeign",
  "details" : "In Spring Cloud OpenFeign 3.0.0 to 3.0.4, 2.2.0.RELEASE to 2.2.9.RELEASE, and older unsupported versions, applications using type-level `@RequestMapping`annotations over Feign client interfaces, can be involuntarily exposing endpoints corresponding to `@RequestMapping`-annotated interface methods.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.5"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.0.4"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-openfeign-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.10"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.2.9"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22044"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2021-22044"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-668" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-22T18:37:06Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-10-28T16:15:00Z"
  }
}