CVE-2020-13959 Velocity Tools XSS Vulnerability
Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript via reflected XSS in the default error page, potentially stealing session cookies or performing actions as the victim.
- 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
What is CVE-2020-13959?
CVE-2020-13959 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 10 Mar 2021. 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
The default error page for VelocityView in Apache Velocity Tools prior to 3.1 reflects back the vm file that was entered as part of the URL. An attacker can set an XSS payload file as this vm file in the URL which results in this payload being executed. XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the attacked website and the attacked user. This can be abused to steal session cookies, perform requests in the name of the victim or for phishing attacks.
Weakness: CWE-79
Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-13959?
4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parent and org.apache.velocity:velocity-tools. It affects 2 products.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parent Maven | All versions | 3.1 |
org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parent Maven | All versions | 3.1 |
org.apache.velocity:velocity-tools Maven | All versions to 2.0 | None |
org.apache.velocity:velocity-tools Maven | All versions to 2.0 | None |
Products include Apache Velocity Tools, Debian Debian Linux.
How do I fix CVE-2020-13959?
Upgrade org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parent to 3.1 or later.
Escape output for the context it lands in and set a strict Content Security Policy. Upgrading the affected component is the real fix. More about Cross-site scripting.
Is CVE-2020-13959 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-13959 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2020-13959, DLA-2597-1, GHSA-fh63-4r66-jc7v, OESA-2021-1122, ROOT-APP-MAVEN-CVE-2020-13959, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-13959 and 1 more.