CVE-2020-13959

Velocity Tools XSS Vulnerability

MEDIUM
6.1
CVSS Score
Published: March 10, 2021 at 08:00 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:54 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsDebian LinuxVelocity Tools

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Severity
MEDIUM6.1
Exploit prediction
EPSS 6%

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 3.1Apache Velocity Tools ≤ v < 3.1
Affected range stops below 3.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
LOW
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-79

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