CVE-2021-22118

Improper Privilege Management in Spring Framework

In Spring Framework, versions 5.2.x prior to 5.2.15 and versions 5.3.x prior to 5.3.7, a WebFlux application is vulnerable to a privilege escalation: by (re)creating the temporary storage directory, a locally authenticated malicious user can read or modify files that have been uploaded to the WebFlux application, or overwrite arbitrary files with multipart request data.

The application assigns, modifies, tracks, or checks privileges incorrectly, allowing a user to gain elevated access. Typical impact: privilege escalation beyond the intended level.

CVE-2021-22118 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (5.2.15, 5.3.7); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

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1. What is CVE-2021-22118? CVE-2021-22118 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in org.springframework:spring-web (maven), affecting versions >= 5.2.0, <= 5.2.14. It is fixed in 5.2.15, 5.3.7. The application assigns, modifies, tracks, or checks privileges incorrectly, allowing a user to gain elevated access.
2. How severe is CVE-2021-22118? CVE-2021-22118 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of org.springframework:spring-web are affected by CVE-2021-22118? org.springframework:spring-web (maven) versions >= 5.2.0, <= 5.2.14 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2021-22118? Yes. CVE-2021-22118 is fixed in 5.2.15, 5.3.7. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2021-22118 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-22118 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2021-22118 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2021-22118?
   • Upgrade org.springframework:spring-web to 5.2.15 or later
   • Upgrade org.springframework:spring-web to 5.3.7 or later

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