CVE-2018-1271 in Spring Framework
Summary
by MITRE
Spring Framework, versions 5.0 prior to 5.0.5 and versions 4.3 prior to 4.3.15 and older unsupported versions, allow applications to configure Spring MVC to serve static resources (e.g. CSS, JS, images). When static resources are served from a file system on Windows (as opposed to the classpath, or the ServletContext), a malicious user can send a request using a specially crafted URL that can lead a directory traversal attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1271 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Spring Framework's static resource handling mechanism. This weakness affects multiple versions of the popular Java web application framework, specifically those below 5.0.5 and 4.3.15, creating a significant security risk for applications that serve static content from the file system on Windows operating systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the Spring MVC static resource serving functionality, which fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied URLs before processing them against the file system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when applications configure Spring MVC to serve static resources from the file system rather than from the classpath or ServletContext. On Windows systems, malicious users can craft specially formatted URLs containing directory traversal sequences such as "..\\" or "%5c" to navigate outside the intended resource directories. This flaw allows attackers to access files that should remain restricted, potentially leading to unauthorized data exposure, system compromise, or information disclosure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate framework functionality to execute malicious requests that bypass normal access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1271 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive application files, configuration data, and potentially system files that reside outside the web application's intended scope. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which specifically addresses path traversal attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access database files, application configuration files, source code, or even system-level files depending on the application's file system permissions. The attack vector is particularly effective in environments where Spring applications are configured to serve content from predictable file system locations.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 - File and Directory Discovery and T1566 - Phishing. The flaw demonstrates how legitimate framework features can be weaponized to achieve unauthorized access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Spring Framework, implementing proper input validation at the application level, and restricting file system access permissions for web applications. Additional defensive measures such as URL filtering, web application firewalls, and network segmentation can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all user inputs and implementing principle of least privilege when configuring file system access in web applications.
This vulnerability underscores the critical need for comprehensive security testing of framework components, particularly those handling file system operations. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign functionality can create significant security risks when proper input validation is absent. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Spring Framework implementations and ensure all systems are updated to patched versions. The vulnerability also emphasizes the importance of security awareness training for developers who configure static resource serving functionality, as proper configuration practices can prevent exploitation of such weaknesses.