CVE-2025-41232: Spring Security Aspects Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2025-41232 Overview

Spring Security Aspects may not correctly locate method security annotations on private methods. This can cause an authorization bypass.

Your application may be affected by this if the following are true:

You are using @EnableMethodSecurity(mode=ASPECTJ) and spring-security-aspects, and
You have Spring Security method annotations on a private method.

In that case, the target method may be able to be invoked without proper authorization.

You are not affected if:

You are not using @EnableMethodSecurity(mode=ASPECTJ) or spring-security-aspects, or
You have no Spring Security-annotated private methods.

Critical Impact
Authorization bypass due to incorrect identification of method security annotations.

Affected Products

Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

Discovery Timeline

Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
Not Available - Responsible disclosure to Not Available
Not Available - CVE CVE-2025-41232 assigned
Not Available - Not Available releases security patch
2025-05-21 - CVE CVE-2025-41232 published to NVD
2025-05-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41232

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability in Spring Security Aspects can lead to unauthorized access by failing to properly identify method security annotations on private methods when using AspectJ.

Root Cause

The root cause is the incorrect handling of method security annotations on private methods due to flawed aspect configuration.

Attack Vector

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability remotely over a network without any authentication or user interaction.

java

// Example exploitation code (sanitized)
@EnableMethodSecurity(mode=ASPECTJ)
public class UnsafeService {
    // Private method with security annotations
    @Secured("ROLE_ADMIN")
    private void sensitiveOperation() {
        // ...
    }
}

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41232

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected access to protected resources
Logs showing invocation of private methods without proper authorization
Excessive access attempts without security checks

Detection Strategies

Implement logging to monitor method access and security checks. Review code for usage of @EnableMethodSecurity(mode=ASPECTJ) and Spring Security annotations on private methods.

Monitoring Recommendations

Regularly audit method access logs to detect unauthorized access attempts. Enable detailed security logging in applications utilizing Spring Security.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41232

Immediate Actions Required

Review and refactor Spring Security configuration
Avoid using private methods for security-critical operations
Conduct a code audit focusing on method security annotations

Patch Information

Check Spring’s official advisory and update to patched spring-security-aspects libraries as soon as a patch is available.

Workarounds

Consider restructuring code to avoid using private methods with sensitive security annotations, and ensure all security checks are appropriately applied.

bash

# Configuration example
# Disable AspectJ mode for Method Security as a temporary mitigation
@Configuration
@EnableMethodSecurity(mode=PROXY)
public class SecurityConfig {
    // ...
}