The Security Risks of Staying on Spring Boot 1.5 and Spring Framework 4

The Importance of Spring Boot and Spring Framework

Spring Boot and Spring Framework are two of the most widely used technologies in Java application development. Spring Boot simplifies the process of building and deploying Spring applications by offering auto-configuration and an embedded application server, making it a favorite for microservices and enterprise applications. Meanwhile, Spring Framework provides the foundational programming and configuration model for Java-based enterprise applications.

With their powerful capabilities, these technologies have become core components in countless software applications. However, like all software, they require regular updates to address security vulnerabilities and maintain compatibility with modern development practices. When these frameworks reach their end of life (EOL), continuing to use them without proper security measures exposes applications to serious security risks.

The End of Life of Spring Boot 1.5 and Spring Framework 4

Spring Boot 1.5 officially reached its end of life on August 6, 2019, and Spring Framework 4 followed on December 31, 2020. Since then, the open-source community has stopped providing updates, leaving these versions vulnerable to newly discovered security flaws.

While organizations may hesitate to upgrade due to compatibility concerns, migration complexity, or technical debt, the lack of security updates presents a significant risk. Security researchers have continued to discover vulnerabilities in these frameworks, but without ongoing maintenance, these issues remain unpatched in the unsupported versions.

A Growing List of Security Vulnerabilities

Since the end of life of these frameworks, multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered, highlighting the ongoing risks for organizations still using outdated versions. Below is a list of critical security vulnerabilities found in Spring Boot, Spring Framework, and Spring Security:

Spring Framework Vulnerabilities:

• CVE-2022-22970: HTTP request header parsing vulnerability leading to potential injection attacks.
• CVE-2022-22965: "Spring4Shell" remote code execution vulnerability.
• CVE-2022-22968: Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in certain components.
• CVE-2024-38820: Deserialization vulnerability leading to arbitrary code execution.
• CVE-2022-22950: Improper input validation causing remote execution risks.
• CVE-2023-20861: XML External Entity (XXE) injection risk.
• CVE-2023-20863: SQL injection vulnerability due to improper sanitization.
• CVE-2024-38808: Path traversal attack enabling unauthorized file access.
• CVE-2022-22971: Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerability in HTTP request handling.
• CVE-2024-38809: Authentication bypass vulnerability in specific configurations.
• CVE-2024-22262: Security misconfiguration leading to data exposure.
• CVE-2024-22259: Privilege escalation risk in microservice deployments.
• CVE-2024-22243: Remote code execution vulnerability due to unsafe object deserialization.
• CVE-2016-1000027: Old but still relevant XSS vulnerability in certain modules.
• CVE-2024-38816: Memory corruption issue leading to crashes and potential exploits.
• CVE-2024-38828: Information disclosure vulnerability in request handling.

Spring Boot Vulnerabilities:

• CVE-2023-34055: Improper handling of environment variables leading to exposure of sensitive data.
• CVE-2022-27772: Untrusted input processing flaw leading to RCE (Remote Code Execution).
• CVE-2023-20883: Path traversal attack enabling unauthorized file manipulation.

Spring Security Vulnerabilities:

• CVE-2024-22257: Authentication token exposure vulnerability.
• CVE-2022-22978: Insecure cryptographic storage of sensitive credentials.
• CVE-2022-22976: Cross-site scripting (XSS) risk in login flows.
• CVE-2021-22112: Open redirect vulnerability in OAuth authentication.
• CVE-2024-38821: Session hijacking vulnerability.
• CVE-2024-38827: Broken access control vulnerability leading to unauthorized data access.

The Critical Risk of Staying on Unsupported Versions

If your application still relies on Spring Boot 1.5 or Spring Framework 4, it is at critical risk. Cybercriminals actively exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software, and without security patches, your application is vulnerable to:

• Data breaches that expose sensitive customer or business information.
• Remote code execution (RCE) attacks that allow attackers to take full control of your system.
• Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks that can render your application unusable.
• Regulatory non-compliance issues, especially in industries with strict security mandates (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS).

Ignoring these risks can have devastating consequences, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liability.

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