CVE-2013-5573: Jenkins core Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-52g6-pfrq-rxfv
Share
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-5573 is a LOW cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Jenkins core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jenkins allows cross-site scripting (xss) in user configuration. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2013-5573 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-5573
GHSA Identifier GHSA-52g6-pfrq-rxfv
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Jenkins core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2013-5573

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Jenkins 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.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.main</groupId>
    <artifactId>jenkins-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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.jenkins-ci.main

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2013-5573, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.main

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

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.main 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Jenkins 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

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the default markup formatter in Jenkins 1.523 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Description field in the user configuration.

CVE-2013-5573 Affected Jenkins core Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core
maven/org.jenkins-ci.main/jenkins-core
Maven
≤ 1.523

References

NVD — CVE-2013-5573 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-5573
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/898... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/89872
Jenkins core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jenkinsci/jenkins
Jenkins core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200229071540/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/64414
Jenkins core Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/124513
seclists.org/bugtraq/2013/dec/10... WEB
http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2013/Dec/104
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2013... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2013/Dec/159
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/30408 WEB
http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/30408

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-5573?
CVE-2013-5573 is a security vulnerability in Jenkins core involving Jenkins allows Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in User Configuration under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Jenkins core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core.
What version fixes CVE-2013-5573?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is jenkins-core affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-5573?
CVE-2013-5573 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2013-5573?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.main'. 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-52g6-pfrq-rxfv",
  "modified" : "2025-03-13T19:11:25Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T01:31:21Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-5573" ],
  "summary" : "Jenkins allows Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in User Configuration",
  "details" : "Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the default markup formatter in Jenkins 1.523 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Description field in the user configuration.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.523"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-5573"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/89872"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/jenkins"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200229071540/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/64414"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/124513"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2013/Dec/104"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2013/Dec/159"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/30408"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-03-13T19:11:25Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-12-31T16:04:00Z"
  }
}