CVE-2020-13953: Tapestry core Improper File Downloads Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w9mp-p2wp-2xf7
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-552
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-13953 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) improper file downloads vulnerability (CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties) affecting Tapestry core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper file downloads in apache tapestry. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.6.0.

CVE-2020-13953 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-13953
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w9mp-p2wp-2xf7
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties
Affected Product Tapestry core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2020-13953

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

org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core fixed: 5.6.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tapestry</groupId>
    <artifactId>tapestry-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.6.0</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=org.apache.tapestry

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-13953, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tapestry

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Tapestry core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.6.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tapestry 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-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties, where the product makes files or directories accessible to unauthorized actors, even though they should not be. In Tapestry core, 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 Apache Tapestry from 5.4.0 to 5.5.0, crafting specific URLs, an attacker can download files inside the WEB-INF folder of the WAR being run.

CVE-2020-13953 Affected Tapestry core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.6.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core
maven/org.apache.tapestry/tapestry-core
Maven
≥ 5.4.0
< 5.6.0
5.6.0

References

NVD — CVE-2020-13953 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13953
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r37dab6... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r37dab61fc7f7088d4311e7f995ef4117d58d86a675f0256caa6991eb@%3Cusers.tapestry.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r50eb12... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r50eb12e8a12074a9b7ed63cbab91d180d19cc23dc1da3ed5b6e1280f%40%3Cusers.tapestry.apache.org%3E

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-13953?
CVE-2020-13953 is a security vulnerability in Tapestry core involving Improper file downloads in Apache Tapestry under CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties.
Which Tapestry core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.6.0 across affected packages: org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core.
What version fixes CVE-2020-13953?
Upgrading to 5.6.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tapestry-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core is affected in releases prior to 5.6.0. Upgrade your dependency to 5.6.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-13953?
CVE-2020-13953 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-13953?
CVE-2020-13953 is classified under CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties (The product makes files or directories accessible to unauthorized actors, even though they should not be.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-13953?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tapestry'. 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-w9mp-p2wp-2xf7",
  "modified" : "2021-04-22T23:05:56Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-10T20:35:42Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-13953" ],
  "summary" : "Improper file downloads in Apache Tapestry",
  "details" : "In Apache Tapestry from 5.4.0 to 5.5.0, crafting specific URLs, an attacker can download files inside the WEB-INF folder of the WAR being run.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.4.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.6.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13953"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r37dab61fc7f7088d4311e7f995ef4117d58d86a675f0256caa6991eb@%3Cusers.tapestry.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r50eb12e8a12074a9b7ed63cbab91d180d19cc23dc1da3ed5b6e1280f%40%3Cusers.tapestry.apache.org%3E"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-552" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-22T23:05:56Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-09-30T18:15:00Z"
  }
}