# CVE-2020-5195: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript via crafted public folder URLs in Cerberus FTP Server, impacting users who click malicious links.

- **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:** 13 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fvhj-87pc-qj64

## What is CVE-2020-5195?

CVE-2020-5195 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 13 Jan 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

Reflected XSS through an IMG element in Cerberus FTP Server prior to versions 11.0.1 and 10.0.17 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript or HTML via a crafted public folder URL. This occurs because of the folder_up.png IMG element not properly sanitizing user-inserted directory paths. The path modification must be done on a publicly shared folder for a remote attacker to insert arbitrary JavaScript or HTML. The vulnerability impacts anyone who clicks the malicious link crafted by the attacker.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5195?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cerberusftp Ftp Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-5195?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-5195 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-5195 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-5195 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2020-5196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5196/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2017-6367](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6367/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2026-6265](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6265/): Local Privilege Escalation in Cerberus FTP Server =< 2025.4.2 (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2012-2999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2999/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2019-25046](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25046/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-5195 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-5195 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 13 Jan 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-2020-5195 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2020-5195/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5195/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5195
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5195
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5195

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5195/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.