# CVE-2020-13654: Improper escaping in XWiki Platform

> Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts via improper escaping in the property displayer, potentially compromising user sessions.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p93c-h8qm-7256

## What is CVE-2020-13654?

CVE-2020-13654 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Xwiki Xwiki, published on 31 Dec 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

XWiki Platform before 12.8 mishandles escaping in the property displayer.

Weakness: CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-13654?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web` | Maven | All versions | 12.8 |
| `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web` | Maven | All versions | 12.8 |

Products: Xwiki Xwiki.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-13654?

Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web to 12.8 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-13654 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-13654 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2020-13654 - XWiki Platform < 12.8 - Stored XSS → CSRF → Account Takeover (github_poc): https://github.com/Astaruf/CVE-2020-13654

## Other vulnerabilities in Xwiki Xwiki

- [CVE-2025-24893](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24893/): XWiki Platform Eval Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-53836](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-53836/): XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-55662](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-55662/): XWiki allows remote code execution through the extension sheet (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-55877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-55877/): XWiki allows remote code execution from account through macro descriptions and XWiki.XWikiSyntaxMacrosList (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-37901](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37901/): XWiki Platform vulnerable to remote code execution from account via SearchSuggestConfigSheet (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-13654 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-13654 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Xwiki Xwiki, published on 31 Dec 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-13654 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 12.8
- org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 12.8

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-2020-13654/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13654/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13654
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13654
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-13654

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13654/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.