CVE-2025-41248 in Spring Security
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2025
The Spring Security annotation detection mechanism may not correctly resolve annotations on methods within type hierarchies with a parameterized super type with unbounded generics. This can be an issue when using @PreAuthorize and other method security annotations, resulting in an authorization bypass.
Your application may be affected by this if you are using Spring Security's @EnableMethodSecurity feature.
You are not affected by this if you are not using @EnableMethodSecurity or if you do not use security annotations on methods in generic superclasses or generic interfaces.
This CVE is published in conjunction with CVE-2025-41249 https://spring.io/security/cve-2025-41249 .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2026
This vulnerability resides in the Spring Security framework's annotation detection mechanism, specifically affecting how the system resolves method security annotations within complex type hierarchies. The flaw manifests when dealing with parameterized super types that employ unbounded generics, creating a scenario where the security framework fails to properly identify and enforce authorization rules. This represents a critical security oversight that directly impacts the integrity of access control mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the method level within the security annotation processing pipeline, where authorization decisions are made. The issue stems from inadequate handling of generic type information during annotation resolution, which is a fundamental component of Spring Security's method-level security implementation. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability relates to improper access control due to insufficient validation of security annotations in complex inheritance scenarios.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when Spring Security attempts to process method security annotations such as PreAuthorize on methods that inherit from generic superclasses or interfaces. During the annotation detection process, the framework fails to correctly traverse the type hierarchy when unbounded generics are present in the inheritance chain. This failure results in the security framework not recognizing that certain methods require authorization checks, effectively creating blind spots in the security model. The issue is particularly pronounced in scenarios involving complex generic type parameters where the framework's type resolution logic cannot properly map the annotated methods to their security requirements. When using EnableMethodSecurity, the framework's annotation processing becomes more sophisticated but also more susceptible to this specific edge case in generic type handling. The vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which deals with local privilege escalation through exploitation of application-level security controls, as it allows attackers to bypass authorization mechanisms that should protect sensitive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it can lead to complete authorization bypasses in applications that rely on Spring Security's method-level protection. An attacker who can identify and exploit this vulnerability could potentially access protected methods and resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. This is particularly dangerous in enterprise applications where method-level security is crucial for protecting sensitive business operations, data access, and administrative functions. The vulnerability affects applications using Spring Security's method security annotations, which are commonly implemented in REST APIs, web services, and enterprise applications where fine-grained access control is essential. The bypass occurs silently without any indication that security checks have been circumvented, making detection particularly challenging. Organizations that have implemented comprehensive security policies using PreAuthorize, PostAuthorize, and similar annotations may find their protections ineffective due to this flaw. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in applications with complex inheritance hierarchies involving generic types, which are common in enterprise software development patterns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams. The most effective approach is to upgrade to the patched version of Spring Security that addresses this specific annotation resolution issue. Organizations should also implement comprehensive testing of their method security configurations to identify potential bypass scenarios in their type hierarchies. Security teams should consider implementing additional monitoring and logging around method-level security checks to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews focusing on generic type usage in security annotation contexts, ensuring that no methods are inadvertently left unprotected due to the annotation resolution failure. Organizations should also consider implementing compensating controls such as additional input validation, request monitoring, and access logging to provide defense-in-depth. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is crucial to test all security annotation configurations in the context of generic type hierarchies, particularly where inheritance chains involve parameterized types with unbounded generics. The fix should be validated through comprehensive security testing that includes both positive and negative test cases to ensure that the annotation resolution mechanism correctly identifies all annotated methods regardless of their position in complex type hierarchies.