# CVE-2026-40974: VMware Spring Boot Improper Certificate Validation in Cassandra auto-configuration

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40974-vmware-spring-boot-improper-certificate-validation-in-cassandra  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-28. Updated: 2026-07-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-40974 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5 · Published 2026-04-28

Spring Boot is a popular framework used to build Java-based enterprise applications. A security issue in its Cassandra database connector means that applications may not verify the identity of the database server they are connecting to. This could allow an attacker on the same network to intercept or modify sensitive data by impersonating the database server.

Technologies: [org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-cassandra (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/org-springframework-boot-spring-boot-cassandra), [VMware Spring Boot](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/spring-boot). Vendors: [Maven](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/maven), [VMware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/vmware).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-40974 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-40974 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-40974?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5, published 28 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-cassandra (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=4.0.0,fixed=4.0.6; VMware Spring Boot 2.7.0–2.7.32, 3.3.0–3.3.18, 3.4.0–3.4.15, 3.5.0–3.5.13, 4.0.0–4.0.5, 4.0.0–4.0.5, 3.5.0–3.5.13, 3.4.0–3.4.15, 3.3.0–3.3.18, 2.7.0–2.7.32.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40974?** Yes. org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-cassandra (Maven): upgrade to 4.0.6 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-40974 attacked?** It is attacked from the adjacent network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-40974?** Check whether you run org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-cassandra (Maven) or VMware Spring Boot 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.boot:spring-boot-cassandra (Maven): upgrade to 4.0.6 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-cassandra to 4.0.6 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```


## Technical details

A vulnerability exists in Spring Boot's Cassandra auto-configuration where hostname verification is not performed during the SSL handshake. This is classified as Improper Certificate Validation (CWE-295). An attacker with adjacent network access could perform a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack to intercept or spoof traffic between the Spring Boot application and the Cassandra database. The vulnerability affects multiple release trains including 2.7.x, 3.3.x, 3.4.x, 3.5.x, and 4.0.x. Users should upgrade to the respective fix versions (e.g., 4.0.6, 3.5.14) to ensure proper certificate validation is enforced.

## Affected products

- VMware Spring Boot 2.7.0–2.7.32, 3.3.0–3.3.18, 3.4.0–3.4.15, 3.5.0–3.5.13, 4.0.0–4.0.5

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-40974
- GHSA-mqvw-jfmh-93qq

## Timeline

- 2026-04-27: advisory: Initial advisory published by VMware
- 2026-04-28: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-40974](https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-40974)

## Related threats

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- [VMware Spring Boot improper certificate validation in Mail auto-configuration](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40992-vmware-spring-boot-improper-certificate-validation-in-mail-auto)
- [VMware Spring Boot link resolution vulnerability in ApplicationPidFileWriter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40977-vmware-spring-boot-link-resolution-vulnerability-in)
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