CVE-2017-8046

CRITICAL EXPLOITED IN THE WILD RANSOMWARE NUCLEI

Spring Data REST < 2.6.9 and Spring Boot < 1.5.9 - Remote Code Execution via Malicious PATCH Request

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2017-8046 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV, InTheWild.io), including in ransomware campaigns. EIP tracks 11 public exploits from researchers including Antonio Francesco Sardella, m3ssap0, Soontao. A Nuclei detection template is also available.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Java-based exploit leverages CVE-2017-8046 to achieve remote code execution (RCE) in Spring Data REST by crafting a malicious PATCH request with a JSON payload that bypasses input validation. The payload executes arbitrary commands by exploiting SpEL (Spring Expression Language) injection.

Description

Malicious PATCH requests submitted to servers using Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9), versions prior to 3.0.1 (Kay SR1) and Spring Boot versions prior to 1.5.9, 2.0 M6 can use specially crafted JSON data to run arbitrary Java code.

Exploits (11)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Antonio Francesco Sardella · javawebappsjava
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44289

This Java-based exploit leverages CVE-2017-8046 to achieve remote code execution (RCE) in Spring Data REST by crafting a malicious PATCH request with a JSON payload that bypasses input validation. The payload executes arbitrary commands by exploiting SpEL (Spring Expression Language) injection.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9), 3.0.1 (Kay SR1)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Vulnerable Spring Data REST endpoint accessible · Network connectivity to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 17 stars
by m3ssap0 · poc
https://github.com/m3ssap0/spring-break_cve-2017-8046

This repository contains a Java-based exploit for CVE-2017-8046, a remote code execution vulnerability in Spring Data REST. The exploit leverages malicious PATCH requests with crafted JSON data to execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable servers.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Pivotal Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.5.12, 2.6.7, 3.0 RC3, Spring Boot versions prior to 2.0.0M4, and Spring Data release trains prior to Kay-RC3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A vulnerable Spring Data REST endpoint accessible via HTTP/HTTPS · Ability to send PATCH requests to the target endpoint
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 14 stars
by m3ssap0 · poc
https://github.com/m3ssap0/SpringBreakVulnerableApp

This repository provides a vulnerable Spring Data REST application and exploit examples for CVE-2017-8046, demonstrating arbitrary code execution via malicious PATCH requests with crafted JSON data.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Pivotal Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.5.12, 2.6.7, 3.0 RC3, Spring Boot versions prior to 2.0.0M4, and Spring Data release trains prior to Kay-RC3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A vulnerable Spring Data REST application exposed to network requests
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 2 stars
by Soontao · poc
https://github.com/Soontao/CVE-2017-8046-DEMO

This repository demonstrates CVE-2017-8046, a SpEL injection vulnerability in Spring Data REST. The PoC includes a Spring Boot application and a test case that exploits the vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands (e.g., launching calc.exe) via a maliciously crafted PATCH request.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST versions before 2.5.12, 2.6.7, and 3.0 RC3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A vulnerable version of Spring Data REST · Network access to the target application
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by sj · poc
https://github.com/sj/spring-data-rest-CVE-2017-8046

This repository contains a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2017-8046, a vulnerability in Spring Data REST that allows remote code execution (RCE) via malicious URI input. The exploit leverages the `UriToEntityConverter` class to execute arbitrary code during URI-to-entity conversion.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST (versions prior to fix)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Exposed Spring Data REST endpoint · Ability to send crafted HTTP requests
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec STUB 1 stars
by cved-sources · poc
https://github.com/cved-sources/cve-2017-8046

This repository contains a minimal Docker build script for CVE-2017-8046 but lacks exploit code. It references a vulnerable Spring Data REST application but does not include a PoC.

Classification
Stub 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Spring Data REST (versions before 2.6.11, 2.5.11, 1.13.16)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Docker environment · Vulnerable Spring Data REST application
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by jkutner · poc
https://github.com/jkutner/spring-break-cve-2017-8046

This is a Java-based exploit for CVE-2017-8046, which allows remote code execution (RCE) via malicious PATCH requests in Spring Data REST. The exploit crafts a JSON payload with a SpEL (Spring Expression Language) injection to execute arbitrary commands on the target system.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST versions prior to 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9), 3.0.1 (Kay SR1)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Vulnerable Spring Data REST endpoint accessible · Network connectivity to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by FixYourFace · remote
https://github.com/FixYourFace/SpringBreakPoC

This is a functional proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2017-8046, a remote code execution vulnerability in Spring Data REST. It allows blind RCE via crafted PATCH requests with JSON-Patch+JSON content type.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST (versions before 2.6.11, 2.5.11, 1.13.11)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target application using vulnerable Spring Data REST · Network access to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by guanjivip · remote
https://github.com/guanjivip/CVE-2017-8046

This PoC exploits CVE-2017-8046, a deserialization vulnerability in Spring Data REST, by sending a malicious PATCH request with a crafted JSON payload to execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The exploit uses base64-encoded payloads to bypass input validation and achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST (versions before 2.6.11, 2.5.11, 1.13.11)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target system running vulnerable Spring Data REST · Network access to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by jsotiro · poc
https://github.com/jsotiro/VulnerableSpringDataRest

This repository contains a vulnerable Spring Data REST application designed to demonstrate CVE-2017-8046, which involves command injection and remote code execution via REST APIs. The application includes Swagger UI for testing and discovery purposes.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the vulnerable Spring Data REST application
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by bkhablenko · remote
https://github.com/bkhablenko/CVE-2017-8046

This repository contains a working PoC for CVE-2017-8046, a Spring Data REST vulnerability allowing SpEL injection via JSON patch requests. The exploit demonstrates arbitrary command execution by injecting a SpEL expression in a PATCH request.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Spring Data REST (Spring Boot 1.5.5.RELEASE)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the vulnerable application · Spring Data REST endpoint exposed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

Nuclei Templates (1)

Spring Data REST < 2.6.9 (Ingalls SR9) / 3.0.1 (Kay SR1) - PATCH Request Remote Code Execution
CRITICALby domwhewell-sage
Shodan: http.title:"eureka"
FOFA: title="eureka"

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2017-8046
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2405
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100948
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44289/

Scores

CVSS v3 9.8
EPSS 0.7278
EPSS Percentile 99.4%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2019-05-20
InTheWild.io 2022-05-25
Ransomware Use Confirmed
CWE
CWE-20
Status published
Products (5)
org.springframework.data/spring-data-rest-core 0 - 2.6.9.RELEASEMaven
pivotal_software/spring_data_rest 3.0.0 (8 CPE variants)
pivotal_software/spring_data_rest < 2.6.9
vmware/spring_boot 2.0.0 milestone1 (5 CPE variants)
vmware/spring_boot < 1.5.9
Published Jan 04, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026