Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Spring Security

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

8.1 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

• CVE-2017-4995: 2.55% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 85.04 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

An issue was discovered in Pivotal Spring Security 4.2.0.RELEASE through 4.2.2.RELEASE, and Spring Security 5.0.0.M1. When configured to enable default typing, Jackson contained a deserialization vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution. Jackson fixed this vulnerability by blacklisting known "deserialization gadgets." Spring Security configures Jackson with global default typing enabled, which means that (through the previous exploit) arbitrary code could be executed if all of the following is true: (1) Spring Security's Jackson support is being leveraged by invoking SecurityJackson2Modules.getModules(ClassLoader) or SecurityJackson2Modules.enableDefaultTyping(ObjectMapper); (2) Jackson is used to deserialize data that is not trusted (Spring Security does not perform deserialization using Jackson, so this is an explicit choice of the user); and (3) there is an unknown (Jackson is not blacklisting it already) "deserialization gadget" that allows code execution present…

Published by the source

13 May 2022, 01:02 UTC

Last modified by the source

5 Mar 2024, 22:11 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:29 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-vhrg-v3cv-p247

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2017-4995

Advisory: Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Spring Security
IDs: CVE-2017-4995, GHSA-vhrg-v3cv-p247
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2017-4995 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:29 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.1)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: org.springframework.security:spring-security-core 5.0.0.M2, 4.2.3.RELEASE. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.springframework.security:spring-security-core: affected >= 5.0.0.M1, <= 5.0.0.M1; >= 4.2.0.RELEASE, <= 4.2.2.RELEASE; fixed in 4.2.3.RELEASE, 5.0.0.M2

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Maven org.springframework.security:spring-security-core: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on org.springframework.security:spring-security-core.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-vhrg-v3cv-p247 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-vhrg-v3cv-p247 lists affected ranges: Maven org.springframework.security:spring-security-core >=5.0.0.M1 =4.2.0.RELEASE <=4.2.2.RELEASE)

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