CVE-2017-4971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been found in Pivotal Spring Web Flow up to version 2.4.4 that could allow malicious EL expressions in view states.

Understanding CVE-2017-4971

This CVE involves a data binding expression vulnerability in Spring Web Flow.

What is CVE-2017-4971?

CVE-2017-4971 is a security flaw in Pivotal Spring Web Flow versions up to 2.4.4 that could be exploited by attackers to inject malicious EL expressions in view states.

The Impact of CVE-2017-4971

The vulnerability could lead to the execution of arbitrary code or unauthorized access to sensitive information in affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-4971

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when applications do not modify the useSpringBinding property of the MvcViewFactoryCreator, potentially allowing malicious EL expressions in view states.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Spring Web Flow
Vendor: Pivotal
Versions affected: Up to 2.4.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious EL expressions in view states that handle form submissions without explicit data binding property mappings.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-4971 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest version of Spring Web Flow.
Ensure the useSpringBinding property is properly configured.
Monitor and restrict user input to prevent injection attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and review application configurations.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent injection vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Pivotal for Spring Web Flow to address this vulnerability.