CVE-2020-13654: Improper escaping in XWiki Platform

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

09/02/2022

Disclosed on

CVE-2020-13654

CVE

Yes i

Fix available

High

Severity

7.5

CVSS Score

CVE-2020-13654: Improper escaping in XWiki Platform. Affects org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web versions < 12.8. Fixed in 12.8. How to fix ↓

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Background

XWiki Platform is a Maven-based open-source software that provides a collaborative web-based platform for creating and sharing content. It offers features such as document management, version control, and access control. The XWiki Platform Web component is responsible for handling web-related functionality. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 12.8 of the XWiki Platform Web component.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13654 involves improper escaping in the property displayer of XWiki Platform. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass proper escaping mechanisms, potentially leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. By injecting malicious code into the property displayer, an attacker can execute arbitrary scripts within the context of a user's browser, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user data. The severity of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH with a CVSS score of 7.5.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

12.8

This is the first release that contains the fix.

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Workaround

As a temporary workaround, developers can manually apply proper escaping mechanisms to the property displayer in their code. This involves sanitizing user input and encoding special characters to prevent script execution. Here is an example of how to implement this workaround in Java:

String escapedValue = StringEscapeUtils.escapeHtml4(userInput);

Conclusion

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13654 in the XWiki Platform Web component can lead to cross-site scripting attacks. It is crucial for developers to upgrade to version 12.8 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Applying proper escaping mechanisms and input sanitization is essential to prevent script execution. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can contact DevNack.com.

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