📄 Description (English)
VMware Tanzu Spring Cloud Config Directory Traversal Vulnerability — Spring, by VMware Tanzu, Cloud Config contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows applications to serve arbitrary configuration files.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2020-5410 is a critical directory traversal vulnerability in VMware Tanzu Spring Cloud Config Server (CVSS 9.0) that allows attackers to read arbitrary configuration files from the server. This vulnerability enables unauthorized access to sensitive data including database credentials, API keys, and system secrets stored in configuration files. With public exploits available, this poses an immediate threat to organizations running vulnerable Spring Cloud Config instances.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 19, 2026 11:48
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses critical risk to Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government agencies (NCA oversight), and large enterprises using Spring Cloud Config for microservices architecture. Financial institutions managing customer data and payment systems are at highest risk of credential exposure. Telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily) and energy sector organizations (ARAMCO subsidiaries) using cloud-native architectures are also vulnerable. The exposure of configuration files could lead to lateral movement, data breaches, and compliance violations under SAMA CSF and NCA ECC 2024 frameworks.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking & Financial Services
Government & Public Sector
Telecommunications
Energy & Utilities
Healthcare
Insurance
E-commerce
Technology & Software Development
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Spring Cloud Config Server instances in your environment and verify their versions
2. Restrict network access to Config Server endpoints using firewall rules and VPN requirements
3. Implement authentication and authorization controls (OAuth2/JWT) on Config Server endpoints
4. Review access logs for suspicious requests to configuration endpoints (patterns: ../, %2e%2e/, encoded traversal attempts)
PATCHING:
1. Upgrade Spring Cloud Config Server to version 2.2.3.RELEASE or later (for 2.2.x branch)
2. Upgrade to version 2.1.4.RELEASE or later (for 2.1.x branch)
3. For Spring Cloud Config Client, update to compatible patched versions
4. Test patches in non-production environment before deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block path traversal patterns
2. Implement strict input validation on all configuration requests
3. Use network segmentation to isolate Config Server from untrusted networks
4. Rotate all credentials stored in configuration files immediately
5. Enable detailed audit logging for all Config Server access
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for HTTP requests containing: ../, %2e%2e/, ..\, %5c patterns to /config/* endpoints
2. Alert on Config Server requests accessing files outside expected configuration directories
3. Track failed authentication attempts and unusual access patterns
4. Monitor for configuration file reads by unauthorized service accounts
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حدد جميع نسخ Spring Cloud Config Server في بيئتك وتحقق من إصداراتها
2. قيّد الوصول إلى نقاط نهاية Config Server باستخدام قواعد جدار الحماية ومتطلبات VPN
3. طبّق عناصر التحكم في المصادقة والتفويض (OAuth2/JWT) على نقاط نهاية Config Server
4. راجع سجلات الوصول للطلبات المريبة (أنماط: ../, %2e%2e/, محاولات اجتياز مشفرة)
التصحيح:
1. ترقية Spring Cloud Config Server إلى الإصدار 2.2.3.RELEASE أو أحدث (لفرع 2.2.x)
2. الترقية إلى الإصدار 2.1.4.RELEASE أو أحدث (لفرع 2.1.x)
3. لعميل Spring Cloud Config، حدّث إلى إصدارات متوافقة مصححة
4. اختبر التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج قبل النشر
عناصر التحكم البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. نشّر قواعد جدار تطبيقات الويب (WAF) لحجب أنماط اجتياز المسارات
2. طبّق التحقق الصارم من المدخلات على جميع طلبات التكوين
3. استخدم تقسيم الشبكة لعزل Config Server عن الشبكات غير الموثوقة
4. أدِر جميع بيانات الاعتماد المخزنة في ملفات التكوين فوراً
5. فعّل تسجيل التدقيق التفصيلي لجميع عمليات الوصول إلى Config Server
قواعد الكشف:
1. راقب طلبات HTTP التي تحتوي على: ../, %2e%2e/, ..\, %5c في نقاط نهاية /config/*
2. أصدر تنبيهات عند طلبات Config Server التي تصل إلى ملفات خارج دلائل التكوين المتوقعة
3. تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة والأنماط غير المعتادة
4. راقب قراءات ملفات التكوين من قبل حسابات خدمة غير مصرح بها
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
A.6.1.1 - Access Control Policy
A.6.2.1 - User Registration and De-registration
A.8.2.1 - Classification of Information
A.8.2.3 - Handling of Assets
A.12.4.1 - Event Logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and Operator Logs
A.14.2.1 - Secure Development Policy
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance (GOV-01: Information Security Governance)
Access Control (AC-01: Access Control Policy, AC-02: User Access Management)
Data Protection (DP-01: Data Classification, DP-02: Data Protection)
Monitoring & Logging (ML-01: Security Event Logging, ML-02: Log Management)
Vulnerability Management (VM-01: Vulnerability Assessment, VM-02: Patch Management)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
6.1 - Screening
6.2 - Terms and conditions of employment
8.1 - Prior to employment
8.2 - During employment
8.3 - Termination and change of employment
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies
A.6.1.1 - Access control policy
A.8.2.1 - Classification of information
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
Requirement 1.1 - Firewall configuration standards
Requirement 2.1 - Default security parameters
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches
Requirement 8.1 - User identification and authentication
Requirement 10.2 - Automated audit trails
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
VMware Tanzu:Spring Cloud Configuration (Config) Server