Spring Security and Spring Framework may not recognize certain paths that should be protected
Both Spring Security 3.2.x, 4.0.x, 4.1.0 and the Spring Framework 3.2.x, 4.0.x, 4.1.x, 4.2.x (as well as other unsupported versions) rely on URL pattern mappings for authorization and for mapping requests to controllers respectively. Differences in the strictness of the pattern matching mechanisms, for example with regards to space trimming in path segments, can lead Spring Security to not recognize certain paths as not protected that are in fact mapped to Spring MVC controllers that should be protected. The problem is compounded by the fact that the Spring Framework provides richer features with regards to pattern matching as well as by the fact that pattern matching in each Spring Security and the Spring Framework can easily be customized creating additional differences.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.springframework.security:spring-security-core | < 4.1.1 | 4.1.1 |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.springframework:spring-core | < 4.3.1 | 4.3.1 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5007
- https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-security/issues/3964
- https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/a30ab30e4e9ae021fdda04e9abfc228476b846b5
- https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-security/commit/e4c13e3c0ee7f06f59d3b43ca6734215ad7d8974
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8crv-49fr-2h6j
- https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2016-5007
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91687
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
-- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.springframework.security:spring-security-core, org.springframework:spring-core- Disclosed
- 17.10.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:21
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-8crv-49fr-2h6j - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.springframework:spring-core
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 19
- First → latest
- 10.2018 06.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 8
- Medium 10
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 9
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 6
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 1
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