# CVE-2020-17453: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> An attacker can execute arbitrary scripts in the WSO2 Management Console via the login page, potentially leading to session hijacking or code execution.

- **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:** No
- **Published:** 5 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5q6x-p849-7jj8

## What is CVE-2020-17453?

CVE-2020-17453 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Wso2 Api Manager, published on 5 Apr 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

WSO2 Management Console through 5.10 allows XSS via the carbon/admin/login.jsp msgId parameter.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-17453?

It affects 8 products.


Products: Wso2 Api Manager, Wso2 Api Manager Analytics, Wso2 Api Microgateway, Wso2 Enterprise Integrator, Wso2 Identity Server, Wso2 Identity Server Analytics, Wso2 Identity Server as Key Manager, Wso2 Micro Integrator.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-17453?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-17453 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-17453 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-17453 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2020-17453 is a powerful scanner for bug bounty hunters and penetration testers to discover vulnerabilities in their web applications. (github_poc): https://github.com/karthi-the-hacker/CVE-2020-17453
- PoC (Proof of Concept) - CVE-2020-17453 (github_poc): https://github.com/ydycjz6j/CVE-2020-17453-PoC
- WSO2 Carbon Management Console <=5.10 - Cross-Site Scripting (nuclei): http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-17453.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Wso2 Api Manager

- [CVE-2022-29464](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29464/): WSO2 Multiple Products Unrestrictive Upload of File (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-6914](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-6914/): Incorrect Authorization in Multiple WSO2 Products via Account Recovery SOAP Admin Service Leading to Account Takeover (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-13226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13226/): WSO2 API Manager vulnerable to SSRF (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-2905](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-2905/): An XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in Multiple WSO2 Products (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2021-42646](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42646/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-17453 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-17453 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Wso2 Api Manager, published on 5 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-17453 exists.

Affected product: Wso2 Api Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2020-17453/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17453/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-17453
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-17453
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-17453

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17453/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.