CVE-2024-38808 is a vulnerability in the Spring Framework, specifically affecting versions 5.3.0 through 5.3.38, as well as older unsupported versions. This vulnerability allows users to supply specially crafted Spring Expression Language (SpEL) expressions that may trigger a denial of service (DoS) condition in applications that evaluate these expressions.
The severity of this vulnerability is classified as medium, with a CVSS score of 4.3. This level is significant because it reflects the potential impact on availability, which could hinder the normal operations of affected applications and services.
Risk to organizations includes potential downtime and service disruption, which can lead to loss of productivity and reputational damage. As such, organizations using affected products should address this vulnerability as part of their priority patch cycle.
Currently, there are no known exploits or public proofs of concept available for this vulnerability. However, organizations should remain vigilant, as the absence of known exploitation does not diminish the risk posed by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official description from VMware indicates that in Spring Framework versions 5.3.0 to 5.3.38, and older unsupported versions, applications that evaluate user-supplied SpEL expressions are vulnerable. This can result in a denial of service (DoS) condition.
The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-770, which pertains to the execution of untrusted inputs in the security context. This vulnerability highlights the importance of validating and sanitizing user inputs, particularly in dynamic expression evaluation scenarios.
The CVSS base score for this vulnerability is 4.3, reflecting a medium severity level. The attack vector is classified as network, with low attack complexity and no special privileges required to trigger the vulnerability, although user interaction is necessary.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2024-38808 stems from the Spring Framework's handling of user-supplied SpEL expressions. When an application evaluates these expressions without proper validation, it opens the door for crafted inputs that may lead to a denial of service condition.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning that an attacker can send requests to a vulnerable application over the network. The attack complexity is low, and since no special privileges are required, it increases the risk of exploitation.
User interaction is required, indicating that while an attacker can initiate the process, a victim must interact with the application in a way that triggers the vulnerability.
The confidentiality and integrity impacts are negligible, but the availability impact is low, which means that while data may not be compromised, service availability could be at risk due to potential downtime.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of the Spring Framework, particularly in production environments, face real-world risks. The potential for a denial of service can disrupt business operations and lead to significant financial losses.
This vulnerability could have a broad blast radius, especially for organizations heavily reliant on the Spring Framework for application development and deployment. Such disruptions could impact end-users and clients, further exacerbating reputational damage.
Given the CVSS score of 4.3 and lack of confirmed exploitation, organizations should still prioritize remediation, as the risk is moderate but significant enough to warrant attention. Organizations should schedule remediation as soon as possible.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects the following products:
1. Spring Framework (versions 5.3.0 - 5.3.38, and older unsupported versions) 2. NetApp Active IQ Unified Manager 3. NetApp OnCommand Insight
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. It is essential to update to the latest version of the Spring Framework that addresses this vulnerability as soon as possible.
For organizations unable to patch immediately, consider implementing input validation and sanitization measures to mitigate the risk associated with user-supplied SpEL expressions.
For further assistance, organizations may consider employing penetration testing services to identify and remediate vulnerabilities effectively.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor application logs for unusual patterns of SpEL expression evaluations, especially those initiated by users.
Behavioral anomalies, such as sudden spikes in resource usage or application crashes, should be investigated promptly.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenges in secure coding practices, particularly in frameworks that evaluate dynamic expressions. Organizations should ensure that developers are trained on secure coding standards and that regular code reviews are conducted.
As part of a robust security strategy, organizations should also incorporate penetration testing methodology to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Additionally, staying informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities is crucial. Regularly updating systems and applying patches will help reduce the attack surface and improve overall resilience against potential exploits.
Organizations should leverage resources like vulnerability management programs and engage in regular security assessments to maintain a strong security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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