CVE-2026-41720: Spring Framework Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jrv5-8w28-4265
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CVSS 7.4
CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-41720 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.4) authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves spring ldap has authentication bypass with empty password. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.4, 3.3.8.

CVE-2026-41720 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-41720
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jrv5-8w28-4265
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.4
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.4

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:H/I:H/A:N).

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 None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-41720

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: 4.0.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.ldap</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-ldap-core</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.4</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core fixed: 3.3.8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.ldap</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-ldap-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.3.8</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.ldap</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-ldap-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.ldap</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-ldap-core</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.ldap

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-41720, 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 4.0.4), 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

Spring LDAP's DirContextAuthenticationStrategy implementations do not reject a bind request where a non-empty username is paired with an empty or null password. Affected versions: Spring LDAP 2.4.0 through 2.4.4; 3.2.0 through 3.2.17; 3.3.0 through 3.3.7; 4.0.0 through 4.0.3.

CVE-2026-41720 Affected Spring Framework Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.43.3.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core
maven/org.springframework.ldap/spring-ldap-core
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.0.4
4.0.4
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core
maven/org.springframework.ldap/spring-ldap-core
Maven
≥ 3.3.0
< 3.3.8
3.3.8
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core
maven/org.springframework.ldap/spring-ldap-core
Maven
≥ 3.2.0
≤ 3.2.16
org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core
maven/org.springframework.ldap/spring-ldap-core
Maven
≤ 2.4.4

References

NVD — CVE-2026-41720 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41720
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/issues/407
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/30b90c9fb61af87208ed051fc31349ef4d418f75
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/5cc73a6b7fb1d2bcb950c4d69221c6d192d79795
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/e2748d44bdce4f6cb4663b9b8d8462e34808f09c
Spring Framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap
Spring Framework Release RELEASE
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/releases/tag/3.3.8
Spring Framework Release RELEASE
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/releases/tag/4.0.4
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-41720

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-41720?
CVE-2026-41720 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Spring LDAP has Authentication Bypass with Empty Password under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.4, 3.3.8 across affected packages: org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core.
What version fixes CVE-2026-41720?
Upgrading to 4.0.4, 3.3.8 (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 4.0.4, 3.3.8, Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.4, 3.3.8, Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-41720?
CVE-2026-41720 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.4 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-41720?
CVE-2026-41720 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-2026-41720?
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-jrv5-8w28-4265",
  "modified" : "2026-07-29T18:15:29Z",
  "published" : "2026-06-09T06:31:57Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-41720" ],
  "summary" : "Spring LDAP has Authentication Bypass with Empty Password",
  "details" : "Spring LDAP's DirContextAuthenticationStrategy implementations do not reject a bind request where a non-empty username is paired with an empty or null password.\n\nAffected versions:\nSpring LDAP 2.4.0 through 2.4.4; 3.2.0 through 3.2.17; 3.3.0 through 3.3.7; 4.0.0 through 4.0.3.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.4"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.0.3"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.8"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.3.7"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.2.0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.2.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.ldap:spring-ldap-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "2.4.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41720"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/issues/407"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/30b90c9fb61af87208ed051fc31349ef4d418f75"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/5cc73a6b7fb1d2bcb950c4d69221c6d192d79795"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/commit/e2748d44bdce4f6cb4663b9b8d8462e34808f09c"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/releases/tag/3.3.8"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-ldap/releases/tag/4.0.4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-41720"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-29T18:15:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-09T05:16:35Z"
  }
}