CVE-2009-1190: Spring Framework Spring Framework Inefficient Regular Expression Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wjjr-h4wh-w6vv
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CWE-1333
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2009-1190 is a MODERATE spring framework inefficient regular expression vulnerability (CWE-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves spring framework inefficient regular expression complexity. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.0.RELEASE.

CVE-2009-1190 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2009-1190
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wjjr-h4wh-w6vv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2009-1190

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: 3.0.0.RELEASE 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.0.RELEASE</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-2009-1190, 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 3.0.0.RELEASE), 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-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity, where the product uses a regular expression with a worst-case computational complexity that is inefficient and possibly exponential. 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

Algorithmic complexity vulnerability in the java.util.regex.Pattern.compile method in Sun Java Development Kit (JDK) before 1.6, when used with spring.jar in SpringSource Spring Framework 1.1.0 through 2.5.6 and 3.0.0.M1 through 3.0.0.M2 and dm Server 1.0.0 through 1.0.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via serializable data with a long regex string containing multiple optional groups, a related issue to CVE-2004-2540.

CVE-2009-1190 Affected Spring Framework Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.0.0.RELEASE
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework:spring-core
maven/org.springframework/spring-core
Maven
≥ 1.1.0
< 3.0.0.RELEASE
3.0.0.RELEASE

References

NVD — CVE-2009-1190 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-1190
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=497161
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/500... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/50083
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
http://www.packetstormsecurity.org/hitb06/DAY_1_-_Marc_Schoenefeld_-_Pentesting_Java_J2EE.pdf
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
http://www.springsource.com/securityadvisory

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2009-1190?
CVE-2009-1190 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Spring Framework Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity under CWE-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.0.0.RELEASE across affected packages: org.springframework:spring-core.
What version fixes CVE-2009-1190?
Upgrading to 3.0.0.RELEASE (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 3.0.0.RELEASE. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.0.RELEASE or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2009-1190?
CVE-2009-1190 is classified under CWE-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity (The product uses a regular expression with a worst-case computational complexity that is inefficient and possibly exponential.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2009-1190?
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-wjjr-h4wh-w6vv",
  "modified" : "2022-11-08T15:00:08Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-02T03:22:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2009-1190" ],
  "summary" : "Spring Framework Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity",
  "details" : "Algorithmic complexity vulnerability in the java.util.regex.Pattern.compile method in Sun Java Development Kit (JDK) before 1.6, when used with spring.jar in SpringSource Spring Framework 1.1.0 through 2.5.6 and 3.0.0.M1 through 3.0.0.M2 and dm Server 1.0.0 through 1.0.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via serializable data with a long regex string containing multiple optional groups, a related issue to CVE-2004-2540.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework:spring-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.0.RELEASE"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.5.6"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-1190"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=497161"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/50083"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.packetstormsecurity.org/hitb06/DAY_1_-_Marc_Schoenefeld_-_Pentesting_Java_J2EE.pdf"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.springsource.com/securityadvisory"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1333" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-08T15:00:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2009-04-27T22:30:00Z"
  }
}