CVE-2020-17523

Authentication bypass in Apache Shiro

9.8 CriticalPublic exploitFix available

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

85.9%Up 71.3 points since Apr 14, 2021

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Record: CVE-2020-17523
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 9.0 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:C
Weakness: CWE-287
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Record: CVE-2020-17523
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2022-1197 No score

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Record: EUVD-2022-1197
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-v98j-7crc-wvrj 9.8

Authentication bypass in Apache Shiro

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Record: GHSA-v98j-7crc-wvrj
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-287
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 9.8

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Record: CVE-2020-17523
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVGHSA-v98j-7crc-wvrj 9.8

Authentication bypass in Apache Shiro

Apache Shiro before 1.7.1, when using Apache Shiro with Spring, a specially crafted HTTP request may cause an authentication bypass.

Record: GHSA-v98j-7crc-wvrj
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-287
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`org.apache.shiro:shiro-web` Maven	before 1.7.1	1.7.1
`org.apache.shiro:shiro-spring` Maven	before 1.7.1	1.7.1
`org.apache.shiro:shiro-spring-boot-starter` Maven	before 1.7.1	1.7.1
`org.apache.shiro:shiro-web` Maven	before 1.7.1, plus listed versions 1.0.0-incubating1.1.01.2.01.2.11.2.2 Show 17 moreShow less 1.2.31.2.41.2.51.2.61.3.01.3.11.3.21.4.01.4.0-RC21.4.11.4.21.5.01.5.11.5.21.5.31.6.01.7.0	1.7.1
`org.apache.shiro:shiro-spring` Maven	before 1.7.1, plus listed versions 1.0.0-incubating1.1.01.2.01.2.11.2.2 Show 17 moreShow less 1.2.31.2.41.2.51.2.61.3.01.3.11.3.21.4.01.4.0-RC21.4.11.4.21.5.01.5.11.5.21.5.31.6.01.7.0	1.7.1
`org.apache.shiro:shiro-spring-boot-starter` Maven	before 1.7.1, plus listed versions 1.4.01.4.0-RC21.4.11.4.21.5.0 Show 5 moreShow less 1.5.11.5.21.5.31.6.01.7.0	1.7.1

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
PoC in GitHub	jweny/shiro-cve-2020-17523	2021-02-03

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases, products	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-17523 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache Shiro, published February 3, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 85.9%, the 99th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.shiro:shiro-web 1.7.1.

References

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