Spring Security logout not clearing security context

Exploitation

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

CVSS

6.3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS

• CVE-2023-20862: 0.65% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 51.09 (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.

In Spring Security, versions 5.7.x prior to 5.7.8, versions 5.8.x prior to 5.8.3, and versions 6.0.x prior to 6.0.3, the logout support does not properly clean the security context if using serialized versions. Additionally, it is not possible to explicitly save an empty security context to the HttpSessionSecurityContextRepository. This vulnerability can keep users authenticated even after they performed logout. Users of affected versions should apply the following mitigation. 5.7.x users should upgrade to 5.7.8. 5.8.x users should upgrade to 5.8.3. 6.0.x users should upgrade to 6.0.3.

Published by the source

19 Apr 2023, 21:30 UTC

Last modified by the source

8 Nov 2023, 05:03 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:16 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-x873-6rgc-94jc

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2023-20862

Advisory: Spring Security logout not clearing security context
IDs: CVE-2023-20862, GHSA-x873-6rgc-94jc
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2023-20862 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:16 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.3)
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 6.0.3, 5.8.3, 5.7.8. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.springframework.security:spring-security-core: affected >= 5.7.0, < 5.7.8; >= 5.8.0, < 5.8.3; >= 6.0.0, < 6.0.3; fixed in 6.0.3, 5.8.3, 5.7.8

## 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-x873-6rgc-94jc (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-x873-6rgc-94jc lists affected ranges: Maven org.springframework.security:spring-security-core >=5.7.0 =5.8.0 =6.0.0 <6.0.3)

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