CVE-2019-16935: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qhmv-wcg2-h8hx
Share
CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-16935 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when 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.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2019-16935 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-16935
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qhmv-wcg2-h8hx
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

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:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2019-16935

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

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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2019-16935, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software 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 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 Software, 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

The documentation XML-RPC server in Python through 2.7.16, 3.x through 3.6.9, and 3.7.x through 3.7.4 has XSS via the server_title field. This occurs in Lib/DocXMLRPCServer.py in Python 2.x, and in Lib/xmlrpc/server.py in Python 3.x. If set_server_title is called with untrusted input, arbitrary JavaScript can be delivered to clients that visit the http URL for this server.

References

usn.ubuntu.com/4151-2 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4151-2
NVD — CVE-2019-16935 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16935
Software Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/16373
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html
usn.ubuntu.com/4151-1 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4151-1
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191017-0004
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZBTGPBUABGXZ7WH7677OEM3NSP6ZEA76
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OYGESQSGIHDCIGOBVF7VXCMIE6YDWRYB
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M34WOYCDKTDE5KLUACE2YIEH7D37KHRX
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/K7HNVIFMETMFWWWUNTB72KYJYXCZOS5V
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JCPGLTTOBB3QEARDX4JOYURP6ELNNA2V
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/COATURTCY7G67AYI6UDV5B2JZTBCKIDX
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BEARDOTXCYPYELKBD2KWZ27GSPXDI3GQ
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4X3HW5JRZ7GCPSR7UHJOLD7AWLTQCDVR
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZBTGPBUABGXZ7WH7677OEM3NSP6ZEA76
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OYGESQSGIHDCIGOBVF7VXCMIE6YDWRYB
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M34WOYCDKTDE5KLUACE2YIEH7D37KHRX
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/K7HNVIFMETMFWWWUNTB72KYJYXCZOS5V
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JCPGLTTOBB3QEARDX4JOYURP6ELNNA2V
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/COATURTCY7G67AYI6UDV5B2JZTBCKIDX
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BEARDOTXCYPYELKBD2KWZ27GSPXDI3GQ
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4X3HW5JRZ7GCPSR7UHJOLD7AWLTQCDVR
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/04/msg00015.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/07/msg00011.html
Software Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/e007860b8b3609ce0bc62b1780efaa06241520bd/Lib/DocXMLRPCServer.py#L213
Software Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/35c0809158be7feae4c4f877a08b93baea2d8291/Lib/xmlrpc/server.py#L897
bugs.python.org/issue38243 WEB
https://bugs.python.org/issue38243
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00062.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00063.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00012.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00021.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-16935?
CVE-2019-16935 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2019-16935?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-16935?
CVE-2019-16935 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-16935?
CVE-2019-16935 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-2019-16935?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. 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-qhmv-wcg2-h8hx",
  "modified" : "2026-10-07T21:31:12Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T16:57:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-16935" ],
  "details" : "The documentation XML-RPC server in Python through 2.7.16, 3.x through 3.6.9, and 3.7.x through 3.7.4 has XSS via the server_title field. This occurs in Lib/DocXMLRPCServer.py in Python 2.x, and in Lib/xmlrpc/server.py in Python 3.x. If set_server_title is called with untrusted input, arbitrary JavaScript can be delivered to clients that visit the http URL for this server.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16935"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/16373"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4151-2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4151-1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191017-0004"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZBTGPBUABGXZ7WH7677OEM3NSP6ZEA76"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OYGESQSGIHDCIGOBVF7VXCMIE6YDWRYB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M34WOYCDKTDE5KLUACE2YIEH7D37KHRX"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/K7HNVIFMETMFWWWUNTB72KYJYXCZOS5V"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JCPGLTTOBB3QEARDX4JOYURP6ELNNA2V"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/COATURTCY7G67AYI6UDV5B2JZTBCKIDX"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BEARDOTXCYPYELKBD2KWZ27GSPXDI3GQ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4X3HW5JRZ7GCPSR7UHJOLD7AWLTQCDVR"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZBTGPBUABGXZ7WH7677OEM3NSP6ZEA76"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OYGESQSGIHDCIGOBVF7VXCMIE6YDWRYB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M34WOYCDKTDE5KLUACE2YIEH7D37KHRX"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/K7HNVIFMETMFWWWUNTB72KYJYXCZOS5V"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JCPGLTTOBB3QEARDX4JOYURP6ELNNA2V"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/COATURTCY7G67AYI6UDV5B2JZTBCKIDX"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BEARDOTXCYPYELKBD2KWZ27GSPXDI3GQ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4X3HW5JRZ7GCPSR7UHJOLD7AWLTQCDVR"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/04/msg00015.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/07/msg00011.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/e007860b8b3609ce0bc62b1780efaa06241520bd/Lib/DocXMLRPCServer.py#L213"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/35c0809158be7feae4c4f877a08b93baea2d8291/Lib/xmlrpc/server.py#L897"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugs.python.org/issue38243"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00062.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00063.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00012.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-09-28T02:15:00Z"
  }
}