CVE-2020-11988: Xmlgraphics commons Server-side Request Forgery (SSRF) Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fmj2-7wx8-qj4v
Share
CVSS 8.2
CWE-20 CWE-918
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-11988 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.2) server-side request forgery (ssrf) vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Xmlgraphics commons libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves server-side request forgery (ssrf) in apache xmlgraphics commons. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.6.

CVE-2020-11988 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-11988
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fmj2-7wx8-qj4v
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.2
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Xmlgraphics commons
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.2

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:H/I:L/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 High (C:H)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-11988

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xmlgraphics commons 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.xmlgraphics:xmlgraphics-commons fixed: 2.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.xmlgraphics</groupId>
    <artifactId>xmlgraphics-commons</artifactId>
    <version>2.6</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.xmlgraphics

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-11988, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xmlgraphics commons in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.6), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.xmlgraphics 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Xmlgraphics commons, 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

Apache XmlGraphics Commons 2.4 is vulnerable to server-side request forgery, caused by improper input validation by the XMPParser. By using a specially-crafted argument, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the underlying server to make arbitrary GET requests.

CVE-2020-11988 Affected Xmlgraphics commons Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.xmlgraphics:xmlgraphics-commons
maven/org.apache.xmlgraphics/xmlgraphics-commons
Maven
< 2.6
2.6

References

NVD — CVE-2020-11988 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11988
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/xmlgraphics-commons/commit/57393912eb87b994c7fed39ddf30fb778a275183
Xmlgraphics commons Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/xmlgraphics-commons
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/xgc-122 WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/XGC-122
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2877ae... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2877ae10e8be56a3c52d03e373512ddd32f16b863f24c2e22f5a5ba2@%3Cdev.poi.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r588d05... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r588d05a0790b40a0eb81088252e1e8c1efb99706631421f17038eb05@%3Cdev.poi.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra8f4d6... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra8f4d6ae402ec020ee3e8c28632c91be131c4d8b4c9c6756a179b12b@%3Cdev.jmeter.apache.org%3E
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22HESSYU7T4D6GGENUVEX3X3H6FGBECH
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JP4XA56DA3BFNRBBLBXM6ZAI5RUVFA33
Xmlgraphics commons Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
Xmlgraphics commons Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
Xmlgraphics commons Security Information SECURITY
https://xmlgraphics.apache.org/security.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-11988?
CVE-2020-11988 is a security vulnerability in Xmlgraphics commons involving Server-side request forgery (SSRF) in Apache XmlGraphics Commons under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Xmlgraphics commons versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.6 across affected packages: org.apache.xmlgraphics:xmlgraphics-commons.
What version fixes CVE-2020-11988?
Upgrading to 2.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xmlgraphics-commons affected?
Yes, org.apache.xmlgraphics:xmlgraphics-commons is affected in releases prior to 2.6. Upgrade your dependency to 2.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-11988?
CVE-2020-11988 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-11988?
CVE-2020-11988 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-11988?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.xmlgraphics'. 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-fmj2-7wx8-qj4v",
  "modified" : "2022-01-06T19:58:58Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-09T00:45:56Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-11988" ],
  "summary" : "Server-side request forgery (SSRF) in Apache XmlGraphics Commons",
  "details" : "Apache XmlGraphics Commons 2.4 is vulnerable to server-side request forgery, caused by improper input validation by the XMPParser. By using a specially-crafted argument, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the underlying server to make arbitrary GET requests.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.xmlgraphics:xmlgraphics-commons"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11988"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/xmlgraphics-commons/commit/57393912eb87b994c7fed39ddf30fb778a275183"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/xmlgraphics-commons"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/XGC-122"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2877ae10e8be56a3c52d03e373512ddd32f16b863f24c2e22f5a5ba2@%3Cdev.poi.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r588d05a0790b40a0eb81088252e1e8c1efb99706631421f17038eb05@%3Cdev.poi.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra8f4d6ae402ec020ee3e8c28632c91be131c4d8b4c9c6756a179b12b@%3Cdev.jmeter.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22HESSYU7T4D6GGENUVEX3X3H6FGBECH"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JP4XA56DA3BFNRBBLBXM6ZAI5RUVFA33"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://xmlgraphics.apache.org/security.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-918" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-03-31T20:37:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-02-24T18:15:00Z"
  }
}