CVE-2020-5397 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Spring Framework, versions 5.2.x prior to 5.2.3, is vulnerable to CSRF attacks through CORS preflight requests targeting Spring MVC or Spring WebFlux endpoints.

Understanding CVE-2020-5397

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in Spring Framework versions 5.2.x before 5.2.3 that allows for CSRF attacks via CORS preflight requests.

What is CVE-2020-5397?

The vulnerability affects Spring Framework versions 5.2.x prior to 5.2.3
It allows for CSRF attacks through CORS preflight requests targeting Spring MVC or Spring WebFlux endpoints
Non-authenticated endpoints are vulnerable due to Chrome-based browsers sending TLS client certificates in CORS preflight requests

The Impact of CVE-2020-5397

Base CVSS Score: 5.3 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
No HTTP body can be sent or received due to this attack

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5397

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Vulnerability Type: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Vulnerable Versions: Spring Framework 5.2.x before 5.2.3

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Spring Framework
Vendor: Spring
Versions Affected: 5.2 (custom version less than v5.2.3.RELEASE)

Exploitation Mechanism

Vulnerability exploited through CSRF attacks via CORS preflight requests
Chrome-based browsers using client certificates can bypass authentication

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-5397 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Spring Framework to version 5.2.3 or higher
Implement proper CORS policies to mitigate CSRF attacks

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Spring Framework to the latest versions
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent CSRF vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Spring to address the CSRF vulnerability