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Vulnerability record · CVE-2020-13959 · published 10 March 2021

CVE-2020-13959: Apache velocity tools cross-site scripting vulnerability

Apache · Velocity Tools

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.

6.1 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 5.7% · top 7.2% CWE-79 · Cross-site scripting
6.1CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 4.3
5.7%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
2Affected product versions listed by NVD
20References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

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.

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

Affected products

2 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

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

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2020-13959), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.