`CVE-2023-20861` Spring Framework

Affected software	Spring Framework
Severity	6.5 Medium CVSS 3.1
Fixed in	`6.0.7`, `5.3.26`, `5.2.23.RELEASE`
Weakness	Expression language injection (CWE-917)
Published	23 Mar 2023
Updated	17 Jun 2026

Description

In Spring Framework versions 6.0.0 - 6.0.6, 5.3.0 - 5.3.25, 5.2.0.RELEASE - 5.2.22.RELEASE, and older unsupported versions, it is possible for a user to provide a specially crafted SpEL expression that may cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.

CWE-400 · Uncontrolled resource consumption

Exploitation status

No public exploit

No exploit has been reported in the sources we check. Published 3 years ago.

CISA KEV not listed
VulnCheck KEV not listed
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: none
Indexed PoC none indexed
EPSS 0.97% chance in 30 days

Waratek protection

No exploit published

Within Waratek scope. In the sources we check, nobody has published exploit code for this CVE or reported it being exploited.

VRT has not found a public code change for this CVE yet.

Protection none
Action not pursued
Review human Researcher
Record active

Decided by	Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset
Finding	A manual classification set this CVE's status to No source fix or exploit.

Decided by

Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

Finding

A manual classification set this CVE's status to No source fix or exploit.

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

Advisory	Type	Quarter	Products Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2024 ↗	CPU	2024-Q3	Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party (Spring Framework) (12.2.1.4.0)
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2024 ↗	CPU	2024-Q2	Oracle Enterprise Manager / Install (Spring Framework) (13.5.0.0)
Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q4	Oracle Commerce / Workbench, Endeca Application Controller, Content Acquisition System (Spring Framework) (11.3.2) Oracle HealthCare Applications / Internal Operations (Spring Framework) (5.0.0-5.0.6)
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q3	Oracle Analytics / Web Server (Spring Framework) (6.4.0.0.0, 7.0.0.0.0) Oracle Communications / Base (Spring Framework) (23.1.0) Oracle Communications / Configuration (Spring Framework) (22.3.2) Oracle Communications / Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework) (22.4.0, 23.1.0) Oracle Communications / Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework) (22.4.0, 23.1.0) Oracle Communications / Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework) (23.1.1, 22.4.2) Oracle Communications / Internal tools (Spring Framework) (9.1.1.5.0) Oracle Communications Applications / Core (Spring Boot) (5.5.0-5.5.17, 6.0.0-6.0.2) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Accessibility (Spring Framework) (14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Base (Spring Framework) (14.4-14.7) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Common (Spring Framework) (14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Common (Spring Framework) (14.7.1.0.0) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Dashboard (Spring Framework) (14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Infrastructure (Spring Framework) (14.5-14.7) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Reports (Spring Framework) (14.5-14.7) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Security (Spring Framework) (14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0) Oracle Financial Services Applications / core module (Spring Framework) (14.0-14.3, 14.5-14.7) Oracle Fusion Middleware / General (Spring Framework) (12.2.1.4.0) Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party (Spring Framework) (12.2.1.4.0)

Advisory

Type

Quarter

Products Oracle names in its risk matrix

Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2024 ↗

CPU

2024-Q3

Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party (Spring Framework) (12.2.1.4.0)

Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2024 ↗

CPU

2024-Q2

Oracle Enterprise Manager / Install (Spring Framework) (13.5.0.0)

Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q4

Oracle Commerce / Workbench, Endeca Application Controller, Content Acquisition System (Spring Framework) (11.3.2)
Oracle HealthCare Applications / Internal Operations (Spring Framework) (5.0.0-5.0.6)

Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q3

Oracle Analytics / Web Server (Spring Framework) (6.4.0.0.0, 7.0.0.0.0)
Oracle Communications / Base (Spring Framework) (23.1.0)
Oracle Communications / Configuration (Spring Framework) (22.3.2)
Oracle Communications / Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework) (22.4.0, 23.1.0)
Oracle Communications / Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework) (22.4.0, 23.1.0)
Oracle Communications / Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework) (23.1.1, 22.4.2)
Oracle Communications / Internal tools (Spring Framework) (9.1.1.5.0)
Oracle Communications Applications / Core (Spring Boot) (5.5.0-5.5.17, 6.0.0-6.0.2)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Accessibility (Spring Framework) (14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Base (Spring Framework) (14.4-14.7)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Common (Spring Framework) (14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Common (Spring Framework) (14.7.1.0.0)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Dashboard (Spring Framework) (14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Infrastructure (Spring Framework) (14.5-14.7)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Reports (Spring Framework) (14.5-14.7)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Security (Spring Framework) (14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / core module (Spring Framework) (14.0-14.3, 14.5-14.7)
Oracle Fusion Middleware / General (Spring Framework) (12.2.1.4.0)
Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party (Spring Framework) (12.2.1.4.0)

Oracle components and versions

Family	Component	Versions, as Oracle lists them	Read as
Oracle Analytics	Web Server (Spring Framework)	6.4.0.0.0, 7.0.0.0.0	6.4.0.0.0 · 7.0.0.0.0
Oracle Commerce	Workbench, Endeca Application Controller, Content Acquisition System (Spring Framework)	11.3.2	11.3.2
Oracle Communications	Base (Spring Framework)	23.1.0	23.1.0
Oracle Communications	Configuration (Spring Framework)	22.3.2	22.3.2
Oracle Communications	Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework)	22.4.0, 23.1.0	22.4.0 · 22.4.2 · 23.1.0 · 23.1.1
Oracle Communications	Internal tools (Spring Framework)	9.1.1.5.0	9.1.1.5.0
Oracle Communications Applications	Core (Spring Boot)	5.5.0-5.5.17, 6.0.0-6.0.2
Oracle Enterprise Manager	Install (Spring Framework)	13.5.0.0	13.5.0.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Accessibility (Spring Framework)	14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0	14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Base (Spring Framework)	14.4-14.7
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Common (Spring Framework)	14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0	14.5.0.8.0 · 14.6.0.4.0 · 14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Dashboard (Spring Framework)	14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0	14.5.0.8.0 · 14.6.0.4.0 · 14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Infrastructure (Spring Framework)	14.5-14.7
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Reports (Spring Framework)	14.5-14.7
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Security (Spring Framework)	14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0	14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications	core module (Spring Framework)	14.0-14.3, 14.5-14.7
Oracle Fusion Middleware	General (Spring Framework)	12.2.1.4.0	12.2.1.4.0
Oracle Fusion Middleware	Third Party (Spring Framework)	12.2.1.4.0	12.2.1.4.0
Oracle HealthCare Applications	Internal Operations (Spring Framework)	5.0.0-5.0.6

Family

Component

Versions, as Oracle lists them

Read as

Oracle Analytics

Web Server (Spring Framework)

6.4.0.0.0, 7.0.0.0.0

6.4.0.0.0 · 7.0.0.0.0

Oracle Commerce

Workbench, Endeca Application Controller, Content Acquisition System (Spring Framework)

11.3.2

Oracle Communications

Base (Spring Framework)

23.1.0

Oracle Communications

Configuration (Spring Framework)

22.3.2

Oracle Communications

Install/Upgrade (Spring Framework)

22.4.0, 23.1.0

22.4.0 · 22.4.2 · 23.1.0 · 23.1.1

Oracle Communications

Internal tools (Spring Framework)

9.1.1.5.0

Oracle Communications Applications

Core (Spring Boot)

5.5.0-5.5.17, 6.0.0-6.0.2

Oracle Enterprise Manager

Install (Spring Framework)

13.5.0.0

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Accessibility (Spring Framework)

14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0

14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Base (Spring Framework)

14.4-14.7

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Common (Spring Framework)

14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0

14.5.0.8.0 · 14.6.0.4.0 · 14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Dashboard (Spring Framework)

14.5.0.8.0, 14.6.0.4.0, 14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0

14.5.0.8.0 · 14.6.0.4.0 · 14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Infrastructure (Spring Framework)

14.5-14.7

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Reports (Spring Framework)

14.5-14.7

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Security (Spring Framework)

14.7.0.2.0, 14.7.1.0.0

14.7.0.2.0 · 14.7.1.0.0

Oracle Financial Services Applications

core module (Spring Framework)

14.0-14.3, 14.5-14.7

Oracle Fusion Middleware

General (Spring Framework)

12.2.1.4.0

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Third Party (Spring Framework)

12.2.1.4.0

Oracle HealthCare Applications

Internal Operations (Spring Framework)

5.0.0-5.0.6

Maven packages

Affected and fixed versions, from OSV.dev

Package Introduced Fixed Last affected

org.springframework:spring-expression 6.0.0 6.0.7 unbounded

org.springframework:spring-expression 5.3.0 5.3.26 unbounded

org.springframework:spring-expression 0 5.2.23.RELEASE unbounded

Package	Introduced	Fixed	Last affected
`org.springframework:spring-expression`	6.0.0	`6.0.7`	unbounded
`org.springframework:spring-expression`	5.3.0	`5.3.26`	unbounded
`org.springframework:spring-expression`	0	`5.2.23.RELEASE`	unbounded

Products and versions

2 products, 6 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
osv	org.springframework	spring-expression	generic	＜ 5.2.23 · ≥ 5.3.0 and ＜ 5.3.26 · ≥ 6.0.0 and ＜ 6.0.7
nvd	vmware	spring framework	generic	≤ 5.2.22 · ≥ 5.3.0 and ≤ 5.3.25 · ≥ 6.0.0 and ≤ 6.0.6

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

osv

org.springframework

spring-expression

generic

＜ 5.2.23 · ≥ 5.3.0 and ＜ 5.3.26 · ≥ 6.0.0 and ＜ 6.0.7

nvd

vmware

spring framework

generic

≤ 5.2.22 · ≥ 5.3.0 and ≤ 5.3.25 · ≥ 6.0.0 and ≤ 6.0.6

References

URL	Tags
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/430fc25acad2e85cbdddcd52b64481691f03ebd1	WEB
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/52c93b1c4b24d70de233a958e60e7c5822bd274f	WEB
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/935c29e3ddba5b19951e54f6685c70ed45d9cbe5	WEB
https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework	PACKAGE
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230420-0007	WEB
https://spring.io/security/cve-2023-20861	WEB
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230420-0007/

URL

Timeline

Published	2023-03-23	By the CVE Program.
NVD record modified	2026-06-17	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Published

2023-03-23

By the CVE Program.

NVD record modified

2026-06-17

NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

How VRT decided (5 of 24 rules ran)

5 of 24 rules ran. The rest didn't run because an earlier rule had already settled the CVE.

# Rule Outcome Status Detail

identity: Does this identifier describe a vulnerability at all? the first rule that matches decides

1 rejected no match CVE Program withdrawal of this identifier

scope: Is it a vulnerability Waratek protects? the first rule that matches decides

2 armr-patch-file no match An ARMR patch file on disk for this CVE

3 armr-secure-rule-file no match An ARMR security-rule template on disk for this CVE

4 manual-classification no match A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

5 manual classification decided it matched No exploit published Found in legacy manual classifications

6 non-java-upstream not reached A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component not reached The defect being in a component of a tracked product the agent does not reach: JavaFX, the Java SE installer, the JInitiator browser plug-in, the native WebLogic proxy plug-in, or a native part of Oracle Application Server or Collaboration Suite (HTTP Server, Web Cache, Internet Directory, mail and calendar servers). Oracle gives these no CPE of their own and names them only in the description.

8 java-client-side not reached Oracle's own risk-matrix note saying the CVE is reached only through untrusted code in the Java sandbox (applets, Web Start) or only through a client installation of Java, so a server running its own trusted code is not exposed

9 osv-maven not reached An OSV.dev record of this CVE affecting a package published to Maven Central. When every such package is one business applications do not use (Minecraft mods and launchers, Fastjson) and no tracked product is named by CPE, it settles the CVE as Outside Waratek scope instead

10 cna-maven-package not reached An affected Maven artifact named by the CNA itself

11 known-cpe-product not reached An NVD CPE naming a product ARMR tracks

12 cna-cpe-product not reached A CPE the CNA published naming a tracked product. Oracle publishes these on advisory day, months before NVD.

13 oracle-advisory-family not reached A tracked product family named in Oracle's own risk matrix. CPE cannot carry a suite name, only a module.

14 cna-named-product not reached A tracked product named in words by the CVE's own CNA, on a record with no CPE yet. Apache and Eclipse publish these on advisory day, before NVD adds CPE data.

15 non-deployable-product not reached The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached

16 unmatched-product not reached No tracked product matched above, and none present at all

disposition: What do we do about one that is? every rule runs

17 patch-hint not reached A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug

18 open-source-maven not reached The affected package being open source on Maven, so the fix can be read

19 poc-derivable not reached An indexed exploit clearing the evidence bar to reverse-engineer, where there is no source to read

20 no-exploit not reached Nothing to build a rule from yet: no published exploit, no CISA record of exploitation and no source-level change to read

21 secure-rule-match not reached A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule

22 exploited-no-fix-or-poc not reached Somebody exploiting this CVE (a CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, or a CISA verdict of active exploitation), with no fix, source code or PoC to build a rule from

23 below-action-threshold not reached Medium or Low severity, no CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, no PoC clearing the evidence bar, no CISA verdict, no Oracle advisory

24 no-exploit-published not reached Exploit code for this candidate, published in a reviewed catalogue or a GitHub repository with 5 or more stars, or in use per CISA or VulnCheck; not only a CISA verdict, a forecast, or nothing at all

NVD ↗ · CVE.org ↗