Authorization Bypass in Spring Security Affecting Method Annotations

CVE-2025-41248

What is CVE-2025-41248?

CVE-2025-41248 is a vulnerability identified within the Spring Security framework, a vital component of the Spring ecosystem used for securing Java applications. The purpose of Spring Security is to provide comprehensive security services, including authentication, authorization, and protection against common vulnerabilities. This particular vulnerability centers around an authorization bypass issue stemming from the inadequacies in resolving method annotations within type hierarchies that utilize parameterized super types with unbounded generics. Specifically, this affects the proper functioning of annotations like @PreAuthorize, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive operations in applications that employ the @EnableMethodSecurity feature. As a consequence, organizations that rely on Spring Security could face significant security risks, potentially allowing unauthorized users to execute privileged actions.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-41248

1. Unauthorized Access: The primary concern is that the vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass authorization checks, allowing unauthorized users to invoke methods that should be restricted, jeopardizing data integrity and application security.

2. Compromised Application Integrity: Organizations leveraging affected versions of Spring Security may find their applications vulnerable to manipulation, as malicious actors could exploit this flaw to perform critical operations without valid credentials.

3. Increased Attack Surface: The existence of this vulnerability can heighten the overall risk profile of applications using Spring Security, as it may lead to further exploitation tactics or be an entry point for broader attacks within an organization’s infrastructure.

References