CVE-2017-8046 in Spring Data REST
Summary
by MITRE
Malicious PATCH requests submitted to servers using Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9), versions prior to 3.0.1 (Kay SR1) and Spring Boot versions prior to 1.5.9, 2.0 M6 can use specially crafted JSON data to run arbitrary Java code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8046 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting Pivotal Spring Data REST applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the way the framework processes PATCH requests containing maliciously crafted JSON data, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary Java code on affected servers. The flaw exists in the spring-data-rest component which is widely used for building RESTful web services in Spring-based applications, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this technology stack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the spring-data-rest framework's handling of PATCH operations. When a malicious PATCH request is submitted with specially constructed JSON payload, the framework fails to properly sanitize the input before processing it through its internal object mapping and persistence mechanisms. This lack of proper sanitization enables attackers to inject and execute arbitrary Java code on the target server, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries and gaining full control over the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows attackers to perform complete system compromise without requiring authentication or specific privileges. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables unauthorized users to execute commands with the privileges of the running application, potentially leading to data theft, system modification, or complete service disruption. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Spring Data REST and Spring Boot, creating widespread exposure across numerous enterprise applications that utilize these frameworks for building RESTful APIs.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of spring-data-rest and Spring Boot, specifically versions 2.5.12, 2.6.7, 3.0 RC3, and Spring Boot 2.0.0M4 respectively. Additionally, network-level restrictions should be implemented to limit access to PATCH endpoints, and comprehensive monitoring should be deployed to detect suspicious activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper validation of critical control items, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of arbitrary code through application-level vulnerabilities.
Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules to prevent malicious JSON payloads from reaching the application layer. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the vulnerability is properly addressed without introducing regressions in application functionality. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and sanitization in web applications, particularly when handling dynamic data processing operations such as PATCH requests in RESTful services.