How severe is CVE-2021-22096?

CVE-2021-22096 has a CVSS score of 4.3/10, rated MEDIUM. Review your exposure and patch according to your risk tolerance.

Which packages are affected by CVE-2021-22096?

CVE-2021-22096 affects the following packages: org.springframework:spring-core (Maven), org.springframework:spring-core (Maven), org.springframework:spring (Maven), org.springframework:spring (Maven). Ecosystems affected: Maven.

How do I fix CVE-2021-22096?

Update org.springframework:spring-core to 5.3.11 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2021-22096 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

How do I detect CVE-2021-22096 in my Maven dependencies?

Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.springframework:spring-core, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.

How do I mitigate CVE-2021-22096 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?

If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

Is CVE-2021-22096 actively exploited in the wild?

No public exploit code has been indexed for CVE-2021-22096 yet. This does not mean the vulnerability cannot be exploited — absence of public exploits does not imply safety. Apply the recommended fix and use O3 Security to monitor your exposure.

What is the EPSS score for CVE-2021-22096?

CVE-2021-22096 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 1.4%, placing it in the 72th percentile of all CVEs. EPSS is maintained by FIRST.org and estimates the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. This score indicates relatively lower exploitation probability, though the CVSS severity should still guide your patching priority.

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2021-22096?

CVE-2021-22096 is classified as CWE-117 (CWE-117). This weakness type describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation.

When was CVE-2021-22096 published, and has it been updated?

CVE-2021-22096 was published on October 28, 2021 and was last updated on October 24, 2026. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting.

☕

☕ Maven

Not in CISA KEV

MEDIUM severity

CVE-2021-22096 — spring-core

MEDIUM

CVE-2021-22096 is a medium-severity (CVSS 4.3) CWE-117 vulnerability in org.springframework:spring-core. A fix is available for org.springframework:spring-core — see the affected versions and patch details below.

Improper Output Neutralization for Logs in Spring Framework

Also known asGHSA-rfmp-97jj-h8m6

Published

Oct 28, 2021

Updated

Oct 24, 2026

Affected

4 pkgs

Patched

4 / 4

Exploits

None indexed

Exploitation data as of Nov 10, 2026 · OSV.dev, NVD, FIRST.org (EPSS)

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗

1.4%probability of exploitation in next 30 days

Lower Risk0.00%

Lower risk than most CVEs72th percentile — riskier than 72% of all scored CVEsHighest risk

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.

How urgent is this, really

Where this sits among everything scored

Real-World Exposure

4 pkgs affected

☕org.springframework:spring-core☕org.springframework:spring-core☕org.springframework:spring☕org.springframework:spring

Real-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.

Description

In Spring Framework versions 5.3.0 - 5.3.10, 5.2.0 - 5.2.17, and older unsupported versions, it is possible for a user to provide malicious input to cause the insertion of additional log entries.

Affected Packages

4 total 4 fixed

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	Fix
☕Maven	`org.springframework:spring-core`	≥ 5.3.0&&< 5.3.11	5.3.11`org.springframework:spring-core:5.3.11`
☕Maven	`org.springframework:spring-core`	≥ 5.2.0&&< 5.2.18	5.2.18`org.springframework:spring-core:5.2.18`
☕Maven	`org.springframework:spring`	≥ 5.2.0&&< 5.2.18	5.2.18`org.springframework:spring:5.2.18`
☕Maven	`org.springframework:spring`	≥ 5.3.0&&< 5.3.11	5.3.11`org.springframework:spring:5.3.11`

Affected Products

8 products · 11 configurations

Application

active iq unified managernetapp

all

Application

management services for element software and netapp hcinetapp

all

Application

metrocluster tiebreakernetapp

all

Application

snap creator frameworknetapp

all

Application

snapcenternetapp

all

Application

communications cloud native core consoleoracle

1 version

1.9.0

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency

Detect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.springframework:spring-core, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.springframework:spring-core to 5.3.11 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2021-22096 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

Fixing This On Your OS

If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.

Red HatLow

Product	Fixed in	Advisory
Red Hat Fuse 7.11	`springframework`	RHSA-2022:5532
Red Hat Virtualization Engine 4.4	`ovirt-dependencies-0:4.5.2-1.el8ev`	RHSA-2022:5555
Red Hat Virtualization Engine 4.4	`org.ovirt.engine-root-0:4.5.2.4-1`	RHSA-2022:6393
RHDM 7.12.1	`springframework`	RHSA-2022:1110
RHPAM 7.12.1	`springframework`	RHSA-2022:1108

Frequently Asked Questions

In Spring Framework versions 5.3.0 - 5.3.10, 5.2.0 - 5.2.17, and older unsupported versions, it is possible for a user to provide malicious input to cause the insertion of additional log entries.

O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

Is CVE-2021-22096 in your dependencies?

Find it across Maven, including transitive dependencies.

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CVSS Score

4.3/10CVSS v3 base

Vector breakdown

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

Low

Availability

None

Raw vector

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

CWE Classification

CWE-117CWE-117

Weaponization

No Nuclei template, Metasploit module or public proof-of-concept found.

OpenSSF Scorecard

Package health score

spring-framework

6.2/10

Code-Review3/10

Maintained10/10

Branch-Protection3/10

Assessed Oct 19, 2026

Timeline

Disclosed

Oct 28, 2021

Last updated

Oct 24, 2026

Identifiers

CVE-2021-22096

GHSA-rfmp-97jj-h8m6

References

Advisorysecurity.netapp.com · ntap 20211125 0005 Advisorytanzu.vmware.com · cve 2021 22096 Advisoryoracle.com · cpuapr2022 Advisorynvd.nist.gov · CVE 2021 22096 Websecurity.netapp.com · ntap 20211125 0005 Packagegithub.com · spring framework

Related vulnerabilities

This CVE is medium severity; 7 of 8 other CVEs affecting spring-core are rated as high or higher (top: high).

CVE-2026-41848CVE-2025-41249CVE-2024-22233CVE-2011-2730CVE-2011-2894CVE-2014-3578CVE-2009-1190CVE-2021-22060

Provenance

Sources

OSV.devNVDFIRST.org (EPSS)

Last verifiedOct 24, 2026

CVE-2021-22096 — spring-core

EPSS Exploitation Probability

How urgent is this, really

Where this sits among everything scored

Real-World Exposure

Description

Affected Packages

Affected Products

Detection & mitigation playbook

Detect

Fix

Workarounds

Fixing This On Your OS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CVE-2021-22096 in your dependencies?