Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Some older Spring Security versions could mistakenly log in a user who submits no password, but only when the application uses Active Directory LDAP authentication and the directory permits anonymous binds. This is a potentially serious authentication weakness, but the source bundle does not provide CVSS, exploit activity, or complete vendor remediation details.
Executive priority
Prioritize review for internet-facing or sensitive applications using legacy Spring Security with Active Directory login. Urgency rises if anonymous LDAP binds are enabled. No active exploitation evidence is provided in the source bundle.
Technical view
CVE-2014-0097 affects ActiveDirectoryLdapAuthenticator in Spring Security 3.1.0 through 3.1.5 and 3.2.0 through 3.2.1. The component did not check password length, so empty-password authentication could succeed when the backing directory allowed anonymous bind behavior.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to applications using the affected Spring Security versions with ActiveDirectoryLdapAuthenticator against an LDAP or Active Directory service that permits anonymous binds.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Practical risk depends on a specific configuration: vulnerable Spring Security, AD LDAP authentication, and directory anonymous-bind behavior.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are configuration-dependent. The CVE description names the affected component and version ranges, but the bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, proof of exploitation, and specific fixed release metadata. Treat Oracle references as downstream signals unless the relevant product advisory confirms impact.
Mitigation direction
- Review Pivotal or successor vendor guidance for fixed Spring Security versions.
- Upgrade Spring Security outside the affected version ranges.
- Disable anonymous binds where business requirements allow.
- Ensure application authentication rejects empty or missing passwords.
- Check downstream vendor advisories, including Oracle CPU references, if bundled in products.
Validation and detection
- Inventory applications for Spring Security 3.1.0-3.1.5 or 3.2.0-3.2.1.
- Confirm whether ActiveDirectoryLdapAuthenticator is used.
- Review LDAP or Active Directory anonymous-bind policy.
- Verify authentication tests reject empty-password submissions.
- Check logs for suspicious successful logins with missing password indicators.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Credential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2014-0097 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://pivotal.io/security/cve-2014-0097CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.