CVE-2022-22980: Spring Framework SpEL Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w24x-87mr-4r23
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CVSS 9.0
CWE-917
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-22980 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.0) spel injection vulnerability (CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves spel injection in spring data mongodb. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.4.1, 3.3.5.

CVE-2022-22980 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-22980
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w24x-87mr-4r23
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.0
CWE Classification CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.0

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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 Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2022-22980

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.data:spring-data-mongodb fixed: 3.4.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-mongodb</artifactId>
    <version>3.4.1</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb fixed: 3.3.5 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-mongodb</artifactId>
    <version>3.3.5</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.data

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-22980, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

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 3.4.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.data 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-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an expression language (el) statement in a framework such as a java server page (jsp) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended el statement before it is executed. 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

A Spring Data MongoDB application is vulnerable to SpEL Injection when using @Query or @Aggregation-annotated query methods with SpEL expressions that contain query parameter placeholders for value binding if the input is not sanitized.

CVE-2022-22980 Affected Spring Framework Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.4.13.3.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-mongodb
Maven
≥ 3.4.0
< 3.4.1
All 1 versions
3.4.0
3.4.1
org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-mongodb
Maven
< 3.3.5
3.3.5

References

NVD — CVE-2022-22980 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22980
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2022-22980

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-22980?
CVE-2022-22980 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving SpEL Injection in Spring Data MongoDB under CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection').
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.4.1, 3.3.5 across affected packages: org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb.
What version fixes CVE-2022-22980?
Upgrading to 3.4.1, 3.3.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-data-mongodb affected?
Yes, org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb is affected in releases prior to 3.4.1, 3.3.5. Upgrade your dependency to 3.4.1, 3.3.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-22980?
CVE-2022-22980 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.0 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-22980?
CVE-2022-22980 is classified under CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an expression language (EL) statement in a framework such as a Java Server Page (JSP) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended EL statement before it is executed.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-22980?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.data'. 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-w24x-87mr-4r23",
  "modified" : "2022-06-25T07:21:52Z",
  "published" : "2022-06-24T00:00:30Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-22980" ],
  "summary" : "SpEL Injection in Spring Data MongoDB",
  "details" : "A Spring Data MongoDB application is vulnerable to SpEL Injection when using @Query or @Aggregation-annotated query methods with SpEL expressions that contain query parameter placeholders for value binding if the input is not sanitized.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.4.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.4.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "3.4.0" ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22980"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2022-22980"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-917" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-25T07:21:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-06-23T17:15:00Z"
  }
}