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CVE-2020-5408

Dictionary attack with Spring Security queryable text encryptor

MEDIUM
6.5
CVSS Score
Published: May 14, 2020 at 05:15 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:21 AM UTC
3 products affected across 3 vendorsSpring SecuritySpring SecuritySpring Security

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Severity
MEDIUM6.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 2%

Description

Spring Security versions 5.3.x prior to 5.3.2, 5.2.x prior to 5.2.4, 5.1.x prior to 5.1.10, 5.0.x prior to 5.0.16 and 4.2.x prior to 4.2.16 use a fixed null initialization vector with CBC Mode in the implementation of the queryable text encryptor. A malicious user with access to the data that has been encrypted using such an encryptor may be able to derive the unencrypted values using a dictionary attack.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Spring Security· Pivotal
95%
5.2.0 ≤ v < 5.2.45.3.0 ≤ v < 5.3.2
Affected range stops below 5.2.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.3.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Spring Security· VMware
95%
4.2.0 ≤ v < 4.2.165.0.0 ≤ v < 5.0.165.1.0 ≤ v < 5.1.10
Affected range stops below 4.2.16, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.0.16, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.1.10, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Spring Security· Spring by VMware
60%
4.2 ≤ v < 4.2.165.0 ≤ v < 5.0.165.1 ≤ v < 5.1.105.2 ≤ v < 5.2.45.3 ≤ v < 5.3.24.25.05.15.25.3
Affected range stops below 4.2.16, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.0.16, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.1.10, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.2.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.3.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

References (4)

x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2020-5408
x_refsource_MISC
Source: [email protected]
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
x_refsource_MISC
Source: [email protected]
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
x_refsource_MISC
Source: [email protected]
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html

CVSS

6.5MEDIUM[email protected]
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-329CWE-330

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