CVE-2026-41697: Spring Data Relational Attackers Can Supply Wildcard Characters Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8r2h-xh92-gq57
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CVSS 4.8
CWE-943
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-41697 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) attackers can supply wildcard characters vulnerability (CWE-943: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic) affecting Spring Data Relational libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves attackers can supply wildcard characters to perform boolean-based blind data inference. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.6, 3.5.12.

CVE-2026-41697 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-41697
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8r2h-xh92-gq57
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.8
CWE Classification CWE-943: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic
Affected Product Spring Data Relational
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.8

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:U/C:L/I:N/A:L).

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 Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2026-41697

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Spring Data Relational 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-relational fixed: 4.0.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-relational</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.6</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational fixed: 3.5.12 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-relational</artifactId>
    <version>3.5.12</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-relational</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-relational</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-relational</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure 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.data

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-41697, 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 Data Relational in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.0.6), 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-943: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic, where the product generates a query intended to access or manipulate data in a data store such as a database, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that can modify the intended logic of the query. In Spring Data Relational, 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

Spring Data Relational does not properly escape binding values of externally-controlled input when using StringMatcher (STARTING, ENDING, or CONTAINING) in Query By Example (QBE). An attacker can supply wildcard characters to perform boolean-based blind data inference. Affected versions: Spring Data Relational/JDBC/R2DBC 4.0.0 through 4.0.5; 3.5.0 through 3.5.11; 3.4.0 through 3.4.14; 3.3.0 through 3.3.16; 3.2.0 through 3.2.15; 3.1.0 through 3.1.14; 3.0.0 through 3.0.15; 2.4.0 through 2.4.19.

CVE-2026-41697 Affected Spring Data Relational Versions

5 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.63.5.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-relational
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.0.6
4.0.6
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-relational
Maven
≥ 3.5.0
< 3.5.12
3.5.12
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-relational
Maven
≥ 3.4.0
≤ 3.4.14
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-relational
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
≤ 3.3.16
org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-relational
Maven
≤ 2.4.19

References

NVD — CVE-2026-41697 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41697
Spring Data Relational Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-data-relational
Spring Data Relational Release RELEASE
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-data-relational/releases/tag/3.5.12
Spring Data Relational Release RELEASE
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-data-relational/releases/tag/4.0.6
Spring Data Relational Security Information SECURITY
https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-41697

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-41697?
CVE-2026-41697 is a security vulnerability in Spring Data Relational involving Attackers can supply wildcard characters to perform boolean-based blind data inference under CWE-943: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic.
Which Spring Data Relational versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.6, 3.5.12 across affected packages: org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational.
What version fixes CVE-2026-41697?
Upgrading to 4.0.6, 3.5.12 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-data-relational affected?
Yes, org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational is affected in releases prior to 4.0.6, 3.5.12, Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.6, 3.5.12, Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-41697?
CVE-2026-41697 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-41697?
CVE-2026-41697 is classified under CWE-943: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic (The product generates a query intended to access or manipulate data in a data store such as a database, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that can modify the intended logic of the query.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-41697?
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-8r2h-xh92-gq57",
  "modified" : "2026-08-12T16:19:02Z",
  "published" : "2026-06-10T00:31:51Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-41697" ],
  "summary" : "Spring Data Relational: Attackers can supply wildcard characters to perform boolean-based blind data inference",
  "details" : "Spring Data Relational does not properly escape binding values of externally-controlled input when using StringMatcher (STARTING, ENDING, or CONTAINING) in Query By Example (QBE). An attacker can supply wildcard characters to perform boolean-based blind data inference.\n\nAffected versions:\nSpring Data Relational/JDBC/R2DBC 4.0.0 through 4.0.5; 3.5.0 through 3.5.11; 3.4.0 through 3.4.14; 3.3.0 through 3.3.16; 3.2.0 through 3.2.15; 3.1.0 through 3.1.14; 3.0.0 through 3.0.15; 2.4.0 through 2.4.19.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.6"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.0.5"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.5.12"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.5.11"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.4.0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.4.14"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.3.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-relational"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "2.4.19"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41697"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-data-relational"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-data-relational/releases/tag/3.5.12"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-data-relational/releases/tag/4.0.6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-41697"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-943" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-08-12T16:19:02Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-10T00:16:50Z"
  }
}