Authorization bypass via reference-identity method comparison
Published May 21, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Authorization bypass in Spring Security 6.4.0 through 6.4.5 allows remote attackers to invoke security-annotated private methods. UniqueSecurityAnnotationScanner.findMethod compares AspectJ-woven Method objects by reference identity, so equal method representations fail to match and their security annotations are missed. Exposure requires AspectJ method security, spring-security-aspects, and a security-annotated private method reachable through application code; confidentiality and integrity are affected, not availability.
Summary
What happened
Authorization bypass in Spring Security 6.4.0 through 6.4.5 allows remote attackers to invoke security-annotated private methods. UniqueSecurityAnnotationScanner.findMethod compares AspectJ-woven Method objects by reference identity, so equal method representations fail to match and their security annotations are missed. Exposure requires AspectJ method security, spring-security-aspects, and a security-annotated private method reachable through application code; confidentiality and integrity are affected, not availability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-41232
- Published
- May 21, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Spring
- Product
- Spring Security
- Classifications
- CWE-693, T1068
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 21, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.4.x <6.4.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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