CVE-2026-41852: VMware Spring Framework authorization bypass in SpEL

CVE-2026-41852 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.7 · Published 2026-06-09

The Spring Framework, a widely used foundation for building Java applications, contains a flaw in how it processes certain internal expressions. This issue allows an attacker to trigger specific functions within the application that were intended to be restricted or read-only. While the risk is rated as low, it could lead to unintended application behavior or minor service disruptions.

Technologies: org.springframework:spring-expression (Maven), VMware Spring Framework. Vendors: Maven, VMware.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-41852 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41852 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-41852?
Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.7, published 9 June 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
org.springframework:spring-expression (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=7.0.0,fixed=7.0.8; VMware Spring Framework 7.0.0 through 7.0.7, 6.2.0 through 6.2.18, 6.1.0 through 6.1.27, 5.3.0 through 5.3.48, 7.0.0 through 7.0.7; 6.2.0 through 6.2.18; 6.1.0 through 6.1.27; 5.3.0 through 5.3.48.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41852?
Yes. org.springframework:spring-expression (Maven): upgrade to 7.0.8 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2026-41852 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-41852?
Check whether you run org.springframework:spring-expression (Maven) or VMware Spring Framework 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:spring-expression (Maven): upgrade to 7.0.8 or later
    # set org.springframework:spring-expression to 7.0.8 in your pom.xml or build.gradle

Technical details

A vulnerability exists in the Spring Expression Language (SpEL) evaluation logic within the spring-expression module. The root cause is an incorrect authorization check (CWE-863) that fails to properly restrict method calls in supposedly limited or read-only evaluation contexts. A remote attacker can exploit this by providing crafted SpEL expressions that invoke arbitrary zero-argument methods, potentially triggering unintended application logic. The attack complexity is considered high as it requires the application to be configured to evaluate user-supplied SpEL in a restricted context. Patches are available in versions 7.0.8 and 6.2.19.

Affected products

  • VMware Spring Framework 7.0.0 through 7.0.7, 6.2.0 through 6.2.18, 6.1.0 through 6.1.27, 5.3.0 through 5.3.48

Identifiers

  • CVE-2026-41852
  • GHSA-9f52-rjqv-25qv

Timeline

  • 2026-06-09: disclosed
  • 2026-06-09: advisory
  • 2026-07-30: patched

References

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