CVE-2025-41248 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting VMware's Spring Security framework, specifically versions 6.4.x and 6.5.x. The vulnerability arises from an issue in the annotation detection mechanism used by Spring Security when resolving method-level security annotations such as @PreAuthorize within type hierarchies that involve parameterized super types with unbounded generics. In such cases, the framework may fail to correctly identify and enforce security annotations on methods inherited from generic superclasses or interfaces. This flaw can lead to an authorization bypass, allowing unauthorized users to invoke protected methods without the intended security checks. The vulnerability specifically impacts applications that enable method security via the @EnableMethodSecurity annotation and use security annotations on methods defined in generic superclasses or interfaces. Applications not using @EnableMethodSecurity or not applying method security annotations in such generic contexts are not affected. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a network-exploitable vulnerability that requires no privileges or user interaction, with a high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. This CVE is related to CVE-2025-41249, which may address a similar or complementary issue in Spring Security. The vulnerability highlights a subtle but critical flaw in the framework's handling of Java generics and security annotations, which could be exploited by attackers to bypass authorization controls and access sensitive functionality or data within affected applications.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-41248 can be significant, especially for those relying on Spring Security 6.4.x or 6.5.x in their Java-based enterprise applications. Since Spring Security is widely used in web applications, microservices, and APIs, an authorization bypass could allow attackers to access sensitive business logic, confidential data, or administrative functions without proper permissions. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical services. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, which often use Spring Security for access control, may face regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if unauthorized data access occurs. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) increases the risk of automated or remote attacks. Although no exploits are known yet, the public disclosure and high CVSS score suggest that attackers may develop exploits soon, increasing urgency for mitigation. The impact is amplified in environments where generic programming patterns are prevalent and method-level security annotations are extensively used, which is common in modern Spring-based applications.

To mitigate CVE-2025-41248, European organizations should: 1) Immediately assess their use of Spring Security versions 6.4.x and 6.5.x and identify applications that enable @EnableMethodSecurity and use method security annotations on generic superclasses or interfaces. 2) Apply vendor-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available from VMware or the Spring Security project. 3) If patches are not yet available, consider temporarily disabling method-level security annotations on generic superclasses or interfaces or refactor code to avoid using unbounded generics in security-sensitive methods. 4) Implement compensating controls such as additional perimeter security, strict network segmentation, and enhanced monitoring of application logs for unauthorized access attempts. 5) Conduct thorough security testing, including static code analysis and penetration testing focused on authorization bypass scenarios in affected applications. 6) Educate development teams about the risks of using generics with security annotations and encourage adherence to secure coding practices. 7) Monitor official Spring Security advisories and CVE databases for updates or exploit reports to respond promptly.