GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp is a critical-severity (CVSS 9.8) Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in org.springframework:spring-web. 4 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.springframework:spring-web — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Pivotal Spring Framework contains unsafe Java deserialization methods
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
How urgent is this, really
GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp plotted by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). The shaded corner — EPSS 50%+ and CVSS 7.0+ — is where this CVE doesn't sit, though severity or exploitability alone can still warrant action.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 377,238 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the 10–50% band (highlighted). Real counts from FIRST.org, not a sample — log-scaled since the landscape is heavily right-skewed.
Real-World Exposure
org.springframework:spring-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
Pivotal Spring Framework before 6.0.0 suffers from a potential remote code execution (RCE) issue if used for Java deserialization of untrusted data. Depending on how the library is implemented within a product, this issue may or not occur, and authentication may be required.
Maintainers recommend investigating alternative components or a potential mitigating control. Version 4.2.6 and 3.2.17 contain enhanced documentation advising users to take precautions against unsafe Java deserialization, version 5.3.0 deprecate the impacted classes and version 6.0.0 removed it entirely.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.springframework:spring-web | all versions | 6.0.0org.springframework:spring-web:6.0.0 |
Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Pivotal Spring Framework through 5.3.16 suffers from a potential remote …
Pivotal Spring Framework through 5.3.16 suffers from a potential remote …
Pivotal Spring Framework through 5.3.16 suffers from a potential remote …
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.springframework:spring-web, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.springframework:spring-web to 6.0.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp 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 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds GHSA-4wrc-f8pq-fpqp across Maven dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.