CVE-2011-2731 in SpringSource Spring Security
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in the RunAsManager mechanism in VMware SpringSource Spring Security before 2.0.7 and 3.0.x before 3.0.6 stores the Authentication object in the shared security context, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted thread.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-2731 represents a critical race condition within the RunAsManager mechanism of VMware SpringSource Spring Security frameworks. This flaw exists in versions prior to 2.0.7 and 3.0.x prior to 3.0.6, where the authentication object is improperly stored in a shared security context. The race condition occurs when multiple threads attempt to access and modify the security context simultaneously, creating a window where malicious actors can exploit the temporal inconsistency in authentication state management. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the security framework by allowing unauthorized privilege escalation through carefully crafted multi-threaded attacks that manipulate the shared authentication state.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper thread safety mechanisms within the Spring Security framework's RunAsManager component. When authentication objects are stored in a shared security context without proper synchronization controls, concurrent threads can interfere with each other's authentication state. The race condition manifests when one thread modifies the security context while another thread reads from it, potentially allowing an attacker to inject or extract authentication information from the shared context. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-362, which describes concurrent execution using shared data structures without proper synchronization mechanisms. The flaw essentially creates a temporal inconsistency where authentication tokens or credentials can be manipulated between the time they are validated and when they are used for access control decisions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise when exploited in multi-threaded environments. Attackers can leverage this race condition to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, modifying system configurations, or establishing persistent access points within the application environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications that utilize Spring Security for authentication and authorization, as web servers typically handle multiple concurrent requests from different threads. This makes the attack surface significantly larger and more exploitable in real-world scenarios where applications process numerous simultaneous user requests. The threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials in the context of privilege escalation through application-specific flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2731 require immediate patching of affected Spring Security versions to the recommended secure releases. Organizations should upgrade to Spring Security 2.0.7 or 3.0.6 and later versions where the race condition has been addressed through proper synchronization mechanisms. Additionally, application developers should implement defensive coding practices including proper thread synchronization when dealing with shared security contexts and avoid storing authentication objects in globally accessible locations. The security architecture should incorporate proper isolation mechanisms to prevent cross-thread contamination of authentication state. System administrators should monitor for unusual authentication patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as request throttling, authentication logging, and continuous monitoring of security context integrity to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that the synchronization mechanisms function correctly without introducing performance degradation or new security issues.