Cross-site scripting in Apache CXF

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

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

EPSS

• CVE-2020-13954: 40.87% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 98.66 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

By default, Apache CXF creates a /services page containing a listing of the available endpoint names and addresses. This webpage is vulnerable to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack via the styleSheetPath, which allows a malicious actor to inject javascript into the web page. This vulnerability affects all versions of Apache CXF prior to 3.4.1 and 3.3.8. Please note that this is a separate issue to CVE-2019-17573.

Published by the source

22 Apr 2021, 16:15 UTC

Last modified by the source

1 Feb 2023, 05:05 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:06 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-64x2-gq24-75pv

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2020-13954

Advisory: Cross-site scripting in Apache CXF
IDs: CVE-2020-13954, GHSA-64x2-gq24-75pv
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2020-13954 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:06 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.1)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: org.apache.cxf:cxf 3.4.1, 3.3.8; org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf 3.4.1, 3.3.8. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.apache.cxf:cxf: affected < 3.3.8; >= 3.4.0, < 3.4.1; fixed in 3.4.1, 3.3.8
- Maven org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf: affected < 3.3.8; >= 3.4.0, < 3.4.1; fixed in 3.4.1, 3.3.8

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Maven org.apache.cxf:cxf: check the installed version with your package manager.
- Maven org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on org.apache.cxf:cxf, org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-64x2-gq24-75pv (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-64x2-gq24-75pv lists affected ranges: Maven org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf >=0 =3.4.0 =0 =3.4.0 <3.4.1)

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