CVE-2026-59282 in Spring Framework
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2026
Spring Framework applications that use Spring's data binding infrastructure to apply user-supplied property paths onto a target object may be vulnerable to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. Spring Framework 7.0.0 - 7.0.8 Spring Framework 6.2.0 - 6.2.19 Spring Framework 6.1.0 - 6.1.28 Spring Framework 6.0.0 - 6.0.30 Spring Framework 5.3.0 - 5.3.49 Spring Framework 5.2.25.RELEASE and earlier
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw within the data binding infrastructure of the Spring Framework, specifically affecting versions ranging from early releases up to version 7.0.8. This issue arises when applications utilize Spring's property path evaluation mechanisms to map user-supplied input directly onto target objects without sufficient validation or constraints on the complexity and depth of those paths. The core technical flaw lies in the recursive nature of how Spring resolves nested properties during data binding operations. When a malicious actor supplies a deeply nested or excessively complex property path, such as one that references non-existent beans or triggers infinite loops through circular dependencies within the object graph, the framework's internal resolution logic can become trapped in an unbounded execution loop. This behavior is not merely a logical error but represents a significant resource exhaustion vector where the application thread becomes permanently blocked while attempting to resolve the pathological property expression.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability exploits the flexibility inherent in Spring Expression Language and data binding mechanisms designed for convenience rather than security by default. The framework attempts to evaluate expressions dynamically at runtime, which allows developers great power but also introduces risk if input is not sanitized. In this specific scenario, the attacker crafts a request containing a property path that forces the underlying bean factory or type converter into an infinite recursion state. Because Java threads are generally long-lived and resources such as CPU cycles and memory stacks are finite, this uncontrolled execution consumes these resources rapidly. The result is a Denial of Service condition where the affected application instance becomes unresponsive to legitimate requests, effectively taking down the service until the thread is forcibly terminated or the server restarts. This aligns with CWE-400, which describes Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, and specifically relates to scenarios involving infinite loops that lead to resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for any production environment relying on Spring Framework versions within the affected range. Since data binding is a fundamental component used in handling HTTP request parameters, form submissions, and API payloads, an attacker does not need complex authentication or privileged access to exploit it. A simple HTTP POST request with a specially crafted JSON body or URL-encoded parameter can trigger the flaw. The consequence is immediate service degradation for all users sharing the same application instance. In cloud-native environments where auto-scaling might be configured based on CPU usage, this could lead to unnecessary scaling events and increased infrastructure costs due to false positives in load detection metrics caused by the high CPU utilization from the malicious thread. Furthermore, if the application runs with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive internal services, the prolonged execution time may allow for secondary attacks such as timing side-channels, although the primary impact remains availability disruption.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate patching and architectural hardening. The most effective remediation is upgrading the Spring Framework to a version that includes patches addressing this specific data binding issue, ensuring all listed vulnerable ranges are updated to their respective fixed releases. For applications where an immediate upgrade is not feasible, developers should implement strict input validation for any user-supplied property paths used in data binding operations. This involves whitelisting allowed properties rather than relying on blacklisting techniques which can be bypassed by novel path structures. Additionally, configuring the application server to enforce thread timeouts or request duration limits can mitigate the impact of such attacks by automatically terminating threads that exceed a defined execution threshold before they exhaust system resources. It is also advisable to review custom data binder configurations and disable unnecessary features like deep property nesting if not explicitly required by business logic.
Security professionals should map this vulnerability to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Resource Hijacking, specifically T1496 which covers Host-based Denial of Service. Monitoring for abnormal spikes in CPU usage or thread count on servers running vulnerable Spring versions can serve as an early detection mechanism. Logs should be audited for requests containing unusually long property paths or those that reference complex nested structures not typical of normal application traffic. By combining timely patching with robust input validation and runtime monitoring, organizations can effectively neutralize the risk posed by this data binding vulnerability and maintain service availability against automated exploitation attempts.