CVE-2011-2730: Spring Framework Improper Neutralization Of Directives Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wv88-pf73-x22p
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Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-2730 is a HIGH improper neutralization of directives vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code in spring framework. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.6, 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023.

CVE-2011-2730 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-2730
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wv88-pf73-x22p
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-2730

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-core fixed: 3.0.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.6</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-core fixed: 2.5.6.SEC03 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.6.SEC03</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework:spring-core fixed: 2.5.7.SR023 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.7.SR023</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-2011-2730, 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 3.0.6), 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 General Security Weakness. 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

VMware SpringSource Spring Framework before 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023, and 3.x before 3.0.6, when a container supports Expression Language (EL), evaluates EL expressions in tags twice, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a (1) name attribute in a (a) spring:hasBindErrors tag; (2) path attribute in a (b) spring:bind or (c) spring:nestedpath tag; (3) arguments, (4) code, (5) text, (6) var, (7) scope, or (8) message attribute in a (d) spring:message or (e) spring:theme tag; or (9) var, (10) scope, or (11) value attribute in a (f) spring:transform tag, aka "Expression Language Injection."

CVE-2011-2730 Affected Spring Framework Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.0.62.5.6.SEC032.5.7.SR023
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework:spring-core
maven/org.springframework/spring-core
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.0.6
3.0.6
org.springframework:spring-core
maven/org.springframework/spring-core
Maven
< 2.5.6.SEC03
2.5.6.SEC03
org.springframework:spring-core
maven/org.springframework/spring-core
Maven
≥ 2.5.7.SR0
< 2.5.7.SR023
2.5.7.SR023

References

NVD — CVE-2011-2730 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2730
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/62ccc8dd7e645fb91705d44919abac838cb5ca3f
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/9772eb8410e37cd0bdec0d1b133218446c778beb
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/b8d86330d1fadc645630416c3aaebf131bf749fc
docs.google.com/document/d/1dc1xxo8... WEB
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dc1xxO8UMFaGLOwgkykYdghGWm_2Gn0iCrxFsympqcE/edit
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework
bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.c... WEB
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=677814
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0191.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0192.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0194.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0195.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0196.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0198.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0221.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-05... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0533.html
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2504
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-2730?
CVE-2011-2730 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code in Spring Framework under General Security Weakness.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.0.6, 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023 across affected packages: org.springframework:spring-core.
What version fixes CVE-2011-2730?
Upgrading to 3.0.6, 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-core affected?
Yes, org.springframework:spring-core is affected in releases prior to 3.0.6, 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.6, 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-2730?
CVE-2011-2730 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2011-2730?
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-wv88-pf73-x22p",
  "modified" : "2024-02-27T22:31:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T02:16:01Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-2730" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code in Spring Framework",
  "details" : "VMware SpringSource Spring Framework before 2.5.6.SEC03, 2.5.7.SR023, and 3.x before 3.0.6, when a container supports Expression Language (EL), evaluates EL expressions in tags twice, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a (1) name attribute in a (a) spring:hasBindErrors tag; (2) path attribute in a (b) spring:bind or (c) spring:nestedpath tag; (3) arguments, (4) code, (5) text, (6) var, (7) scope, or (8) message attribute in a (d) spring:message or (e) spring:theme tag; or (9) var, (10) scope, or (11) value attribute in a (f) spring:transform tag, aka \"Expression Language Injection.\"",
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  }, {
    "package" : {
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    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
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    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dc1xxO8UMFaGLOwgkykYdghGWm_2Gn0iCrxFsympqcE/edit"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=677814"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0191.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0192.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0194.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0195.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0196.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0198.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0221.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0533.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2504"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-13T17:45:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-12-05T17:55:00Z"
  }
}