Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessIdentify Spring app using Data MongoDB
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DeliveryLocate endpoint bound to @Query repository method
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ExploitSubmit crafted SpEL payload in parameter
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ExecutionTrigger expression evaluation during parameter binding
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PersistExecute arbitrary Java methods on server
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ImpactAchieve RCE and pivot
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Expression language sanitization
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| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires a target application to declare a Spring Data MongoDB repository method annotated with @Query whose query string uses a capture-all SpEL placeholder, and to bind attacker-controllable input (typically an HTTP request parameter or body field) to that method's argument. Limiting factors per the CVSS vector are the AC:H rating reflecting the need for a vulnerable code pattern, the requirement that the application run an affected Spring Data MongoDB version (3.4.0-3.4.19, 4.0.0-4.0.15, 4.1.0-4.1.14, 4.2.0-4.2.15, 4.3.0-4.3.16, 4.4.0-4.4.14, 4.5.0-4.5.11, or 5.0.0-5.0.5), and reachability of the affected endpoint from the attacker's network position. No authentication is required per PR:N, no user interaction is required per UI:N, and scope is unchanged per S:U. |
| Impact | The CVSS 8.1 vector indicates network reach with no privileges or user interaction, but with high attack complexity - meaning exploitation depends on application-specific conditions (the target must actually expose a vulnerable @Query method with a capture-all placeholder and route attacker-controllable input into it). EPSS, KEV, SSVC and POC data were not supplied in the input, so probabilistic and real-world exploitation signals are unknown. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV based on the data provided. The realistic risk is therefore highly dependent on application code: organizations whose repositories never use SpEL placeholders are largely unaffected, while those with custom @Query methods using capture-all placeholders face a serious unauthenticated RCE pathway. The AC:H rating should not be used to deprioritize patching for Java/Spring-heavy estates because the complexity reflects code-pattern prevalence, not exploit difficulty once a vulnerable method is reachable. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker submits a crafted value via an HTTP request parameter that the application passes to a Spring Data MongoDB repository method annotated with @Query using a capture-all placeholder; the value is interpolated into the query template, parsed as a SpEL expression, and executed server-side, allowing the attacker to invoke arbitrary Java methods and ultimately achieve remote code execution as the application user. No public exploit is identified at time of analysis, but the pattern is closely analogous to prior Spring SpEL injection issues for which weaponized payloads emerged rapidly. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jun 10, 2026
Remote code execution risk in Spring Data MongoDB arises from a SpEL expression injection flaw (CWE-917) triggered during parameter binding for repository methods annotated with @Query that use a capture-all placeholder. With CVSS 8.1 (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N) and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, unauthenticated attackers who can influence query parameters reaching such a method could execute arbitrary SpEL expressions on the server.
RemediationAI
Upgrade Spring Data MongoDB to a fixed release on your branch - the advisory at https://spring.io/security/cve-2026-41717 should be consulted for the exact patched build, but logically the fixes are above the ranges listed (i.e. 5.0.6+, 4.5.12+, 4.4.15+, 4.3.17+, 4.2.16+, 4.1.15+, 4.0.16+, and 3.4.20+ once published); cite the vendor advisory for the authoritative fix version because exact patched releases are not independently confirmed in the input data. As an interim compensating control, audit all @Query-annotated repository methods and remove capture-all SpEL placeholders, replacing them with positional parameter binding (?0, ?1) which is not evaluated as SpEL; this requires changing query strings but does not break the repository abstraction. Where a SpEL placeholder is genuinely required, ensure the bound value is a strictly validated allow-listed string rather than free-form user input. At the perimeter, WAF rules that block SpEL syntax tokens (e.g. T(, #{, new ) in request parameters provide partial defense but are easily bypassed and should not be relied on as a primary control.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 2 packages in maven, euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
Spring Data MongoDB is the Spring Data module that maps Java domain objects onto MongoDB and exposes the @Query annotation so developers can declare JSON-based MongoDB query strings on repository interfaces. Spring's parameter binding for these annotated query methods evaluates SpEL expressions inside the query template; when the template uses a capture-all placeholder (e.g. ?#{...} style or a placeholder that absorbs the entire bound parameter), user-controlled input flows directly into the SpEL evaluation context. This is a textbook CWE-917 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in an Expression Language Statement) defect: tainted data is concatenated into an interpreted expression instead of being treated as a parameter value, and SpEL - being a full expression language with type/method access - can be coerced into invoking arbitrary methods on reachable Java objects, leading to code execution. No CPE strings were supplied in the input, but the vendor advisory enumerates a wide release matrix spanning the 3.4.x, 4.0.x-4.5.x, and 5.0.x branches.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from Vendor (vmware).
CVSS VectorVendor: vmware
Lifecycle Timeline
1DescriptionCVE.org
Spring Data MongoDB contains a SpEL (Spring Expression Language) expression injection vulnerability. The issue occurs during parameter binding when a user-defined repository query method is annotated with @Query and utilizes a capture-all placeholder.
Affected versions: Spring Data MongoDB 5.0.0 through 5.0.5; 4.5.0 through 4.5.11; 4.4.0 through 4.4.14; 4.3.0 through 4.3.16; 4.2.0 through 4.2.15; 4.1.0 through 4.1.14; 4.0.0 through 4.0.15; 3.4.0 through 3.4.19.
Blast Radius
ecosystem impact- 37 maven packages depend on org.springframework.data:spring-data-mongodb (13 direct, 24 indirect)
Ecosystem-wide dependent count for version 5.0.0.
Executive ViewAI
Spring Data MongoDB contains a critical SpEL expression injection vulnerability (CVE-2026-41717) that enables unauthenticated remote code execution on affected systems. Organizations running vulnerable versions risk server compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement through compromised application infrastructure.
Until patch availability: (1) Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries to eliminate SpEL expression injection vectors; (2) Disable SpEL evaluation in Spring Data MongoDB configuration where architecturally feasible; (3) Deploy WAF rules targeting SpEL injection patterns; (4) Restrict network exposure to affected applications using firewall rules and network segmentation; (5) Enable application logging and deploy IDS signatures for SpEL expression detection; (6) Conduct urgent code review to eliminate capture-all placeholders from @Query annotations.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.
EUVD-2026-35900
GHSA-5whc-4q84-fj73
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB