Medium severity6.1NVD Advisory· Published Mar 10, 2021· Updated Jun 17, 2026
CVE-2020-13959
CVE-2020-13959
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.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected packages
Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parentMaven | < 3.1 | 3.1 |
org.apache.velocity:velocity-toolsMaven | <= 2.0 | — |
Affected products
5Apache Velocity Tools+ 1 more
- (no CPE)range: Apache Velocity Tools
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:velocity_tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <3.1
- ghsa-coords2 versionspkg:maven/org.apache.velocity.tools/velocity-tools-parentpkg:maven/org.apache.velocity/velocity-tools
< 3.1+ 1 more
- (no CPE)range: < 3.1
- (no CPE)range: <= 2.0
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
13- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/10/2nvdMailing ListThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-fh63-4r66-jc7vghsaADVISORY
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6802a38c3041059e763a1aadd7b37fe95de75408144b5805e29b84e3%40%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3EnvdMailing ListVendor AdvisoryWEB
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00021.htmlnvdMailing ListThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13959ghsaADVISORY
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202107-52nvdThird Party AdvisoryWEB
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6802a38c3041059e763a1aadd7b37fe95de75408144b5805e29b84e3@%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3EghsaWEB
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r97edad0655770342d2d36620fb1de50b142fcd6c4f5c53dd72ca41d7@%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3EghsaWEB
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb042f3b0090e419cc9f5a3d32cf0baff283ccd6fcb1caea61915d6b6@%3Ccommits.velocity.apache.org%3EghsaWEB
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf9868c564cff7adfd5283563f2309b93b3e496354a211a57503b2f72@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3EghsaWEB
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r97edad0655770342d2d36620fb1de50b142fcd6c4f5c53dd72ca41d7%40%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3Envd
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb042f3b0090e419cc9f5a3d32cf0baff283ccd6fcb1caea61915d6b6%40%3Ccommits.velocity.apache.org%3Envd
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf9868c564cff7adfd5283563f2309b93b3e496354a211a57503b2f72%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3Envd
News mentions
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