CVE-2017-8028: Spring Framework Improper Authentication Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pjqh-2jcc-5j84
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-8028 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper authentication in pivotal spring-ldap. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.2.

CVE-2017-8028 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-8028
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pjqh-2jcc-5j84
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
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-2017-8028

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.ldap:spring-ldap-core fixed: 2.3.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.ldap</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-ldap-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.2</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.ldap

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-8028, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

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 2.3.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.ldap 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. 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 Pivotal Spring-LDAP versions 1.3.0 - 2.3.1, when connected to some LDAP servers, when no additional attributes are bound, and when using LDAP BindAuthenticator with org.springframework.ldap.core.support.DefaultTlsDirContextAuthenticationStrategy as the authentication strategy, and setting userSearch, authentication is allowed with an arbitrary password when the username is correct. This occurs because some LDAP vendors require an explicit operation for the LDAP bind to take effect.

CVE-2017-8028 Affected Spring Framework Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core
maven/org.springframework.ldap/spring-ldap-core
Maven
≥ 1.3.0
< 2.3.2
2.3.2

References

NVD — CVE-2017-8028 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8028
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/08e8ae289bbd1b581986c7238604a147119c1336
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:03... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0319
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/11/msg00026.html
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2017-8028
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-4046
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-8028?
CVE-2017-8028 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Improper Authentication in Pivotal Spring-LDAP under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.2 across affected packages: org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core.
What version fixes CVE-2017-8028?
Upgrading to 2.3.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-ldap-core affected?
Yes, org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core is affected in releases prior to 2.3.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-8028?
CVE-2017-8028 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-8028?
CVE-2017-8028 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-8028?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.ldap'. 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-pjqh-2jcc-5j84",
  "modified" : "2024-04-05T18:51:08Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:12:09Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-8028" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Authentication in Pivotal Spring-LDAP",
  "details" : "In Pivotal Spring-LDAP versions 1.3.0 - 2.3.1, when connected to some LDAP servers, when no additional attributes are bound, and when using LDAP BindAuthenticator with org.springframework.ldap.core.support.DefaultTlsDirContextAuthenticationStrategy as the authentication strategy, and setting userSearch, authentication is allowed with an arbitrary password when the username is correct. This occurs because some LDAP vendors require an explicit operation for the LDAP bind to take effect.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.3.1"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8028"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/08e8ae289bbd1b581986c7238604a147119c1336"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0319"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/11/msg00026.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2017-8028"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-4046"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-30T21:14:06Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-11-27T10:29:00Z"
  }
}