CVE-2022-22963
Spring Cloud Function RCE: stopped at runtime
Waratek RASP’s secure runtime rules stop this class of attack out of the box - no application change, no vendor patch, no downtime.
Published April 1, 2022 · Updated October 30, 2025
The vulnerability
Remote code execution via crafted routing expression
Spring Cloud Function's routing functionality evaluates a user-supplied routing-expression as a Spring Expression Language (SpEL) string. An attacker can craft a malicious SpEL expression in a request header to achieve remote code execution and access local resources.
Running an affected version? We can help.
Waratek RASP shields the vulnerable code in production - the exploit is blocked at runtime with no library upgrade, no redeploy, and no downtime. We can have you covered fast.
How Waratek RASP stops it
Blocked at runtime by Waratek RASP
Waratek RASP applies a secure runtime rule that covers this whole class of attack out of the box - the exploit is stopped inside the JVM before it ever reaches a dangerous sink.
Runtime, not perimeter
Waratek RASP acts inside the JVM at the exact call that turns input into code, so obfuscated and encoded payloads are caught where a WAF misses them.
No code changes
Protection is applied as a rule at runtime. No source edits, no recompilation, no library upgrade, and no application restart required.
Zero false positives
Rules target the specific unsafe behaviour of the exploit, so legitimate traffic keeps flowing while the attack is blocked and logged.
| Mod | Rules | Enable |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Cloud Function RCE protectionCVE-2022-22963 · SpEL expression injection | 1 | |
| SQL Injection protectionQuery manipulation | 4 | |
| Path Traversal protectionUnsafe file access | 3 |
Flip one toggle in the Waratek Portal. The protection deploys to every attached application, with no restart.
Common questions
Spring Cloud Function RCE FAQ
Is Spring Cloud Function RCE (CVE-2022-22963) exploitable?
CVE-2022-22963 carries a CVSS 9.8/10 (CRITICAL) rating and affects Spring Cloud Function Through 3.1.6, and 3.2.0 through 3.2.2. Spring Cloud Function's routing functionality evaluates a user-supplied routing-expression as a Spring Expression Language (SpEL) string. An attacker can craft a malicious SpEL expression in a request header to achieve remote code execution and access local resources. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
How does Waratek mitigate Spring Cloud Function RCE (CVE-2022-22963)?
Waratek RASP blocks exploitation of Spring Cloud Function RCE (CVE-2022-22963) inside the JVM at runtime, with no application code changes, no vendor patch and no restart.
How quickly was Spring Cloud Function RCE (CVE-2022-22963) exploited after disclosure?
Exploit code for CVE-2022-22963 was already circulating publicly on March 26, 2022, before the vulnerability was even formally published in the NVD. Attackers had a head start before most defenders had a CVE record to react to.
Protect your apps in production
Get protected against Spring Cloud Function RCE - without code changes or redeploying
Book a call and we’ll show you how Waratek RASP shields your running applications against CVE-2022-22963 and attacks like it, and get you covered in production.