# CVE-2020-5410: Directory traversal attack in Spring Cloud Config

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-5410-vmware-tanzu-spring-cloud-config-directory-traversal-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2020-06-05. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-5410 · Severity: critical · CVSS 3.1 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2020-06-05

Spring Cloud Config contains a directory traversal vulnerability in the spring-cloud-config-server module. An unauthenticated attacker can send specially crafted URLs to access and serve arbitrary configuration files from the server's file system.

Technologies: [org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/org-springframework-cloud-spring-cloud-config-server). Vendors: [Maven](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/maven).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-5410 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-5410 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 25 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-5410?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 5 June 2020.

**Which products and versions are affected?** org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=2.1.0,fixed=2.1.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-5410?** Yes. org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server (Maven): upgrade to 2.1.9 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-5410 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-5410?** Check whether you run org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server (Maven), VMware Tanzu Spring Cloud Config Server or VMware Tanzu Spring Cloud Configuration (Config) Server at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server (Maven): upgrade to 2.1.9 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-config-server to 2.1.9 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```


## Affected products

- VMware Tanzu Spring Cloud Config 2.1.x prior to 2.1.9, 2.2.x prior to 2.2.3

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-5410
- GHSA-32xf-jwmv-9hf3

## Timeline

- 2020-06-02: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2022-03-25: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

## Related threats

- [VMware Spring Cloud Config sensitive information disclosure in logs](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41004-vmware-spring-cloud-config-sensitive-information-disclosure-in)
- [VMware Spring Cloud Config TOCTOU in Git base directory](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41002-vmware-spring-cloud-config-toctou-in-git-base-directory)
- [VMware Spring Cloud Config directory traversal in spring-cloud-config-server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40982-vmware-spring-cloud-config-directory-traversal-in-spring-cloud)
- [VMware Spring Cloud Config auth bypass in Google Secrets Manager backend](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40981-vmware-spring-cloud-config-auth-bypass-in-google-secrets-manager)
- [Spring Cloud Config Server: Path Traversal via Profile Parameter Allows Arbitrary File Access](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-22739-spring-cloud-config-server-path-traversal-via-profile-parameter)