CVE-2020-13445: Release.portal.bom Liferay Portal And Liferay DXP Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-v377-8f8f-532h
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-74
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-13445 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) liferay portal and liferay dxp vulnerability (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')) affecting Release.portal.bom libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves liferay portal and liferay dxp vulnerable to arbitrary code execution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.3.2, 7.0.10.fp92, 7.1.10.fp18, 7.2.10.fp6.

CVE-2020-13445 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-13445
GHSA Identifier GHSA-v377-8f8f-532h
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
Affected Product Release.portal.bom
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2020-13445

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Release.portal.bom dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom fixed: 7.3.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.portal.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.3.2</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.0.10.fp92 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.10.fp92</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.1.10.fp18 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.1.10.fp18</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.2.10.fp6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.2.10.fp6</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay.portal

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-13445, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay.portal

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Release.portal.bom in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 7.3.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay.portal command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component. In Release.portal.bom, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In Liferay Portal before 7.3.2 and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 92, 7.1 before fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 6, the template API does not restrict user access to sensitive objects, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via crafted FreeMarker and Velocity templates.

CVE-2020-13445 Affected Release.portal.bom Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
7.3.27.0.10.fp927.1.10.fp187.2.10.fp6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.portal.bom
Maven
< 7.3.2
7.3.2
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.10.fp92
7.0.10.fp92
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.1.0
< 7.1.10.fp18
7.1.10.fp18
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.2.0
< 7.2.10.fp6
7.2.10.fp6

References

NVD — CVE-2020-13445 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13445
Release.portal.bom Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal
issues.liferay.com/browse/lpe-17023 WEB
https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17023
Release.portal.bom Security Information SECURITY
https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/HbL5mxmVrnXW/content/id/119317411
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2020-043-liferay_ce

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-13445?
CVE-2020-13445 is a security vulnerability in Release.portal.bom involving Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP Vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection').
Which Release.portal.bom versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 7.3.2, 7.0.10.fp92, 7.1.10.fp18, 7.2.10.fp6 across affected packages: com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom.
What version fixes CVE-2020-13445?
Upgrading to 7.3.2, 7.0.10.fp92, 7.1.10.fp18, 7.2.10.fp6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is release.portal.bom affected?
Yes, com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom is affected in releases prior to 7.3.2. Upgrade your dependency to 7.3.2 or later.
Is release.dxp.bom affected?
Yes, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom is affected in releases prior to 7.0.10.fp92, 7.1.10.fp18, 7.2.10.fp6. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.10.fp92, 7.1.10.fp18, 7.2.10.fp6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-13445?
CVE-2020-13445 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-13445?
CVE-2020-13445 is classified under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-13445?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay.portal'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-v377-8f8f-532h",
  "modified" : "2025-05-14T07:27:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:20:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-13445" ],
  "summary" : "Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP Vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution",
  "details" : "In Liferay Portal before 7.3.2 and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 92, 7.1 before fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 6, the template API does not restrict user access to sensitive objects, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via crafted FreeMarker and Velocity templates.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.3.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.0.10.fp92"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.1.10.fp18"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.2.10.fp6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13445"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17023"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/HbL5mxmVrnXW/content/id/119317411"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2020-043-liferay_ce"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-74" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-05-14T07:27:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-06-10T19:15:00Z"
  }
}