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CVE-2020-13959

24
FAUCET Score

CVE-2020-13959 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Velocity Tools prior to version 3.1, where the default error page for VelocityView reflects user-supplied input. This allows an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript by manipulating the URL, affecting Apache Velocity Tools and Debian Linux distributions. Rated 6.1 MEDIUM, the vulnerability requires user interaction (UI:R) but can be exploited remotely (AV:N) with low complexity (AC:L), potentially leading to session hijacking or phishing. There is no known active exploitation or public exploit code (Metasploit, Nuclei, ExploitDB), though it has received some community discussion and media coverage, including a report on its impact on government websites.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
< 3.1CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:apache:velocity_tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
9.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

6.1MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
LOW
Integrity Impact
LOW
Availability Impact
NONE
Exploitability Score
2.8
Impact Score
2.7
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
6.36%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
92.9%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-28
Model: v2026.06.15
This CVE's current EPSS score of 0.0636 is in the 97th percentile among its peer group of 26,236 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.0 Reddit, 0.1 Bluesky, 0.0 Mastodon, and 0.1 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.1 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.0 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (1)

mavenpatch availablevia ghsa
Product: org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parentFixed in: 3.1

Vendor Advisories (2)

mavenGHSA-fh63-4r66-jc7vmedium

Cross-site scripting (XSS) in Apache Velocity Tools

Mar 12, 2021
redhatCVE-2020-13959Moderate

velocity: XSS in the default error page for VelocityView

Mar 9, 2021

References

lists.apache.org / thread.html/r6802a38c3041059e763a1aadd7b37fe95de75408144b5805e29b84e3%40%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3E
Mailing ListVendor Advisory
lists.apache.org / thread.html/r97edad0655770342d2d36620fb1de50b142fcd6c4f5c53dd72ca41d7%40%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org / thread.html/rb042f3b0090e419cc9f5a3d32cf0baff283ccd6fcb1caea61915d6b6%40%3Ccommits.velocity.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org / thread.html/rf9868c564cff7adfd5283563f2309b93b3e496354a211a57503b2f72%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
lists.debian.org / debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00021.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
security.gentoo.org / glsa/202107-52
Third Party Advisory
openwall.com / lists/oss-security/2021/03/10/2
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory