# CVE-2020-13954: Apache CXF Reflected XSS in the services listing page via the styleSheetPath

> Attackers can inject JavaScript into the Apache CXF services listing page via the styleSheetPath parameter, potentially executing code in victim browsers.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-64x2-gq24-75pv

## What is CVE-2020-13954?

CVE-2020-13954 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 12 Nov 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

By default, Apache CXF creates a /services page containing a listing of the available endpoint names and addresses. This webpage is vulnerable to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack via the styleSheetPath, which allows a malicious actor to inject javascript into the web page. This vulnerability affects all versions of Apache CXF prior to 3.4.1 and 3.3.8. Please note that this is a separate issue to CVE-2019-17573.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-13954?

8 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf and org.apache.cxf:cxf. It affects 6 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf` | Maven | All versions | 3.3.8 |
| `org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf` | Maven | All versions | 3.3.8 |
| `org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf` | Maven | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.1 |
| `org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf` | Maven | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.1 |
| `org.apache.cxf:cxf` | Maven | All versions | 3.3.8 |
| `org.apache.cxf:cxf` | Maven | All versions | 3.3.8 |
| `org.apache.cxf:cxf` | Maven | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.1 |
| `org.apache.cxf:cxf` | Maven | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.1 |

Products: Apache Cxf, Netapp Snap Creator Framework, Netapp Vasa Provider for Clustered Data Ontap, Oracle Business Intelligence, Oracle Communications Messaging Server, Oracle Retail Order Broker Cloud Service.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-13954?

Upgrade org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf to a fixed version for your release line: 3.3.8 or 3.4.1.

## Is CVE-2020-13954 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-13954 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Cxf

- [CVE-2012-2379](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2379/): XML Signature/Encryption Not Validated in Apache CXF (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-66909](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-66909/): Apache CXF: Unsafe deserialization of inbound JMS ObjectMessage (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-68079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68079/): Apache CXF: DefaultEncryptingCodeDataProvider allows unlimited authorization code replay (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-50628](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50628/): Apache CXF: OAuth2: Inverted IP Binding Check Defeats Security Control (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-48913](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48913/): Apache CXF: Untrusted JMS configuration can lead to RCE (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-13954 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-13954 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 12 Nov 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: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-13954 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.8
- org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.8
- org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf (Maven): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.1
- org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf (Maven): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.1
- org.apache.cxf:cxf (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.8
- org.apache.cxf:cxf (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.8
- org.apache.cxf:cxf (Maven): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.1
- org.apache.cxf:cxf (Maven): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.1

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-2020-13954/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13954/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13954
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13954
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-13954

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13954/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.