CVE-2026-62242 in Spring Boot Admin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
Spring Boot Admin Server before 4.1.2 contains a server-side request forgery vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to register instances with attacker-controlled healthUrl and managementUrl parameters without validation against private IP ranges or metadata endpoints. Attackers can force the server to make HTTP requests to arbitrary internal addresses and retrieve response bodies via the actuator proxy to exfiltrate cloud credentials.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
Spring Boot Admin Server versions prior to 412 contain a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the security posture of applications relying on this monitoring framework. This vulnerability resides in the instance registration mechanism where the server fails to validate the healthUrl and managementUrl parameters provided by registering instances. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to submit maliciously crafted registration requests with arbitrary URLs pointing to internal network resources or cloud metadata endpoints without any validation checks against private IP ranges or restricted access points.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Spring Boot Admin Server's registration endpoint. When an instance registers itself with the admin server, it provides healthUrl and managementUrl parameters that are used to proxy requests to the registered application's actuator endpoints. The server accepts these parameters without proper sanitization or verification, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the proxy behavior. This design flaw enables attackers to register fake instances pointing to internal services or cloud metadata servers such as AWS metadata endpoints, Azure instance metadata, or GCP metadata services that contain sensitive credentials and configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potential compromise of entire cloud environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to harvest cloud instance credentials from metadata endpoints, which typically contain access keys, secret tokens, and other authentication material necessary for accessing cloud resources. The proxy functionality of Spring Boot Admin Server allows attackers to make HTTP requests to internal addresses that would normally be restricted or protected by network firewalls and security controls. This creates a significant attack surface where even isolated internal services become accessible through the seemingly benign registration mechanism.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918 Server-Side Request Forgery and maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1566.002 Initial Access: Phishing via Service Providers, as attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to cloud credentials and subsequently move laterally within compromised environments. The lack of authentication requirements for instance registration makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in open or poorly secured networks where attackers can freely submit registration requests without authorization. Organizations using Spring Boot Admin Server versions prior to 412 should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rules restricting access to the admin server's registration endpoints, and application-level validation of URL parameters.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict input validation mechanisms that reject URLs pointing to private IP ranges such as 1000/8, 172160/12, 1921680/24, and known metadata endpoints. Network-level controls including firewalls and access control lists should be configured to restrict outbound connections from the Spring Boot Admin Server to internal addresses. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing authentication mechanisms for instance registration and monitoring for unusual registration patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of service registration processes and comprehensive network segmentation practices will significantly reduce the risk associated with this vulnerability.
The root cause of this issue demonstrates a common pattern in modern application frameworks where convenience features like automatic instance discovery and proxy capabilities inadvertently create security vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that automated systems must implement robust validation and sanitization controls, particularly when dealing with user-provided URLs or network addresses. The remediation process requires careful consideration of the balance between functionality and security, ensuring that administrative features do not introduce unintended attack vectors while maintaining operational efficiency.
Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Spring Boot Admin Server 412 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced URL validation mechanisms. The fix typically includes implementing comprehensive input sanitization that validates URLs against known safe patterns and rejects connections to private network ranges or metadata services. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions that detect anomalous registration patterns, particularly those involving unusual URLs or repeated attempts to access internal resources, as these may indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.