# CVE-2020-11023: JQuery Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

> Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript by passing unsanitized HTML with option elements to jQuery DOM manipulation methods.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 23 Jan 2025 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 29 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** ALSA-2021:1846, ALSA-2025:1210, ALSA-2025:1215, ALSA-2025:1300, ALSA-2025:1301, ALSA-2025:1306, ALSA-2025:1309, ALSA-2025:1314, ALSA-2025:1329, ALSA-2025:1338, ALSA-2025:1346, BIT-drupal-2020-11023, CLEANSTART-2024-DL38300, CLSA-2025-1741290577, CLSA-2025-1744875112, CLSA-2025-1744892170, CLSA-2025-1744925221, CLSA-2025-1744925460, CLSA-2025-1749505823, CLSA-2025-1750688636, CLSA-2026-1779120195, CLSA-2026-1786361523, CVE-2020-23064, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-11023, GHSA-jpcq-cgw6-v4j6, RHSA-2020:5412, RHSA-2021:0860, RHSA-2021:1846, RHSA-2025:1070, RHSA-2025:1185, RHSA-2025:1209, RHSA-2025:1210, RHSA-2025:1211, RHSA-2025:1212, RHSA-2025:1213, RHSA-2025:1214, RHSA-2025:1215, RHSA-2025:1216, RHSA-2025:1217, RHSA-2025:1247, RHSA-2025:1255, RHSA-2025:1256, RHSA-2025:1300, RHSA-2025:1301, RHSA-2025:1303, RHSA-2025:1304, RHSA-2025:1305, RHSA-2025:1306, RHSA-2025:1308, RHSA-2025:1309, RHSA-2025:1310, RHSA-2025:1311, RHSA-2025:1312, RHSA-2025:1314, RHSA-2025:1315, RHSA-2025:1329, RHSA-2025:1338, RHSA-2025:1342, RHSA-2025:1346, RHSA-2025:1514, RHSA-2025:1515, RHSA-2025:1580, RHSA-2025:1601, RHSA-2025:2426, RLSA-2021:1846, RLSA-2025:1210, RLSA-2025:1215, RLSA-2025:1300, RLSA-2025:1301, RLSA-2025:1306, RLSA-2025:1309, RLSA-2025:1314, RLSA-2025:1329, RLSA-2025:1338, RLSA-2025:1346, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-11023

## What is CVE-2020-11023?

CVE-2020-11023 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 29 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In jQuery versions greater than or equal to 1.0.3 and before 3.5.0, passing HTML containing <option> elements from untrusted sources - even after sanitizing it - to one of jQuery's DOM manipulation methods (i.e. .html(), .append(), and others) may execute untrusted code. This problem is patched in jQuery 3.5.0.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-11023?

11 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.webjars.npm:jquery, drupal and jQuery. It affects 52 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.webjars.npm:jquery` | Maven | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `org.webjars.npm:jquery` | Maven | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `drupal` | Bitnami | From 7.0.0 | 7.70.0, 8.7.14, 8.8.6 |
| `jQuery` | NuGet | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `jQuery` | NuGet | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `components/jquery` | Packagist | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `components/jquery` | Packagist | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `jquery-rails` | RubyGems | All versions | 4.4.0 |
| `jquery-rails` | RubyGems | All versions | 4.4.0 |
| `jquery` | npm | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `jquery` | npm | From 1.0.3 | 3.5.0 |
| `bind-dyndb-ldap` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 11.6-2.module_el8.5.0+2603+92118e57 |
| `cpp` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `custodia` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 0.6.0-3.module_el8.5.0+2603+92118e57 |
| `custodia` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 0.6.0-3.module_el8.6.0+2881+2f24dc92 |
| `doxygen` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1:1.8.14-13.el8_10 |
| `doxygen-doxywizard` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1:1.8.14-13.el8_10 |
| `doxygen-latex` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1:1.8.14-13.el8_10 |
| `gcc` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-c++` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-gdb-plugin` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-gfortran` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-offload-nvptx` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-plugin-annobin` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-plugin-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8.5.0-23.el8_10.alma.1 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-gcc` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-gcc-c++` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-gcc-gfortran` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-gcc-plugin-annobin` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-gcc-plugin-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libasan-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libatomic-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libgccjit` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libgccjit-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libitm-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-liblsan-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libquadmath-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libstdc++-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libstdc++-docs` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |
| `gcc-toolset-13-libtsan-devel` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 13.3.1-2.2.el8_10 |

Products: Debian Debian Linux, Drupal Drupal, Fedoraproject Fedora, Jquery Jquery, Netapp Active Iq Unified Manager, Netapp Cloud Backup, Netapp Cloud Insights Storage Workload Security Agent, Netapp H300e Firmware, Netapp H300s Firmware, Netapp H410c Firmware, Netapp H410s Firmware, Netapp H500e Firmware, Netapp H500s Firmware, Netapp H700e Firmware, Netapp H700s Firmware, Netapp Hci Baseboard Management Controller, Netapp Max Data, Netapp Oncommand Insight, Netapp Oncommand System Manager, Netapp Snap Creator Framework and 32 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-11023?

Upgrade org.webjars.npm:jquery to 3.5.0 or later. US federal agencies must fix it by 13 Feb 2025.

## Is CVE-2020-11023 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-11023 in the wild since at least 23 Jan 2025.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2020-11023  PoC for bug bounty. (github_poc): https://github.com/Cybernegro/CVE-2020-11023
- https://github.com/honeyb33z/cve-2020-11023-scanner (github_poc): https://github.com/honeyb33z/cve-2020-11023-scanner
- Vulnearability Report of the New Jersey official site (github_poc): https://github.com/Snorlyd/https-nj.gov---CVE-2020-11023
- Offline jQuery CVE-2020-11023 remediation kit for legacy Spring/JSP - Node.js built-ins only (no npm, no internet) (github_poc): https://github.com/GarlicB/jquery35-local-agent
- jQuery 1.0.3 - Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (exploitdb)
- Demonstration of CVE-2020-11023 (github_poc): https://github.com/andreassundstrom/cve-2020-11023-demonstration

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-11023 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-11023 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 29 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-11023 in the wild since at least 23 Jan 2025.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.webjars.npm:jquery (Maven): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- org.webjars.npm:jquery (Maven): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- drupal (Bitnami): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 7.70.0, 8.7.14, 8.8.6
- jQuery (NuGet): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- jQuery (NuGet): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- components/jquery (Packagist): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- components/jquery (Packagist): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- jquery-rails (RubyGems): affected all versions; fixed in 4.4.0
- jquery-rails (RubyGems): affected all versions; fixed in 4.4.0
- jquery (npm): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0
- jquery (npm): affected from 1.0.3; fixed in 3.5.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11023/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11023/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11023
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11023
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-11023

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11023/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.