Cross-site Scripting (XSS) Affecting velocity-tools package, versions <2.0-7ubuntu0.18.04.1~esm1


Severity

Recommended
0.0
medium
0
10

Based on Ubuntu security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
3.21% (88th percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-UBUNTU1804-VELOCITYTOOLS-5836183
  • published22 Mar 2026
  • disclosed10 Mar 2021

Introduced: 10 Mar 2021

CVE-2020-13959  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-79  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Ubuntu:18.04 velocity-tools to version 2.0-7ubuntu0.18.04.1~esm1 or higher.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream velocity-tools package and not the velocity-tools package as distributed by Ubuntu. See How to fix? for Ubuntu:18.04 relevant fixed versions and status.

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 Base Scores

version 3.1