CVE-2017-8046 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Servers using specific versions of Pivotal Spring Data REST and Spring Boot may be vulnerable to malicious PATCH requests that can execute arbitrary Java code.

Understanding CVE-2017-8046

This CVE involves the exploitation of manipulated JSON data to run arbitrary Java code on servers.

What is CVE-2017-8046?

Vulnerability in Spring Data REST and Spring Boot versions prior to 2.6.9, 3.0.1, and 1.5.9, 2.0 M6
Allows attackers to send harmful PATCH requests to execute arbitrary Java code

The Impact of CVE-2017-8046

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to compromise server integrity and execute unauthorized code

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8046

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

Servers using outdated versions of Spring Data REST and Spring Boot are susceptible to malicious PATCH requests
Exploitation involves sending manipulated JSON data to execute arbitrary Java code

Affected Systems and Versions

Pivotal Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9) and 3.0.1 (Kay SR1)
Spring Boot versions prior to 1.5.9 and 2.0 M6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can craft specially designed JSON data to send harmful PATCH requests
These requests can trigger the execution of unauthorized Java code

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-8046 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Spring Data REST and Spring Boot to versions 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9), 3.0.1 (Kay SR1), 1.5.9, or 2.0 M6
Monitor and restrict PATCH requests to prevent unauthorized code execution

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly apply security patches and updates to all software components
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit attack surfaces

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches provided by Pivotal for Spring Data REST and Spring Boot to address this vulnerability