CVE-2021-22112
HIGHCVE-2021-22112 is a high-severity (CVSS 8.8) vulnerability in org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom. O3 Security confirms whether CVE-2021-22112 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
Privilege escalation in spring security
Real-World Exposure
org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom☕org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom☕org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom☕org.springframework.security:spring-security-web☕org.springframework.security:spring-security-web☕org.springframework.security:spring-security-webReal-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
Spring Security 5.4.x prior to 5.4.4, 5.3.x prior to 5.3.8.RELEASE, 5.2.x prior to 5.2.9.RELEASE, and older unsupported versions can fail to save the SecurityContext if it is changed more than once in a single request.A malicious user cannot cause the bug to happen (it must be programmed in). However, if the application's intent is to only allow the user to run with elevated privileges in a small portion of the application, the bug can be leveraged to extend those privileges to the rest of the application.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom | ≥ 5.4.0&&< 5.4.4 | 5.4.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom | ≥ 5.3.0&&< 5.3.8 | 5.3.8 |
| ☕Maven | org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom | all versions | 5.2.9 |
| ☕Maven | org.springframework.security:spring-security-web | ≥ 5.4.0&&< 5.4.4 | 5.4.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.springframework.security:spring-security-web | ≥ 5.3.0&&< 5.3.8 | 5.3.8 |
| ☕Maven | org.springframework.security:spring-security-web | all versions | 5.2.9 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.springframework.security:spring-security-bom to 5.4.4 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2021-22112 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.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2021-22112 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2021-22112. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2021-22112 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2021-22112 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.