CVE-2020-15840: Com.liferay.portal.impl Liferay Portal And Liferay DXP Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vrwx-q9pj-x488
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-284
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-15840 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) liferay portal and liferay dxp vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Com.liferay.portal.impl libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves liferay portal and liferay dxp bypass via double encoded url. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.4.0, 7.0.10.fp93, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp7, 7.3.1, 7.1.3.

CVE-2020-15840 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-15840
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vrwx-q9pj-x488
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Com.liferay.portal.impl
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-2020-15840

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Com.liferay.portal.impl 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:com.liferay.portal.impl fixed: 7.4.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>com.liferay.portal.impl</artifactId>
    <version>7.4.0</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.0.10.fp93 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.10.fp93</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.1.10.fp19 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.1.10.fp19</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.2.10.fp7 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.2.10.fp7</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom fixed: 7.3.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.portal.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.3.1</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl fixed: 7.1.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>com.liferay.portal.impl</artifactId>
    <version>7.1.3</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-2020-15840, 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 Com.liferay.portal.impl in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 7.4.0), 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-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. In Com.liferay.portal.impl, 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 7.3.1, com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl before 7.1.3 and 7.4.0, Liferay Portal 6.2 EE, and Liferay DXP 7.2, DXP 7.1 and DXP 7.0, the property 'portlet.resource.id.banned.paths.regexp' can be bypassed with doubled encoded URLs.

CVE-2020-15840 Affected Com.liferay.portal.impl Versions

6 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
7.4.07.0.10.fp937.1.10.fp197.2.10.fp77.3.17.1.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl
maven/com.liferay.portal/com.liferay.portal.impl
Maven
≥ 7.2.0
< 7.4.0
7.4.0
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
< 7.0.10.fp93
7.0.10.fp93
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.1.0
< 7.1.10.fp19
7.1.10.fp19
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.2.0
< 7.2.10.fp7
7.2.10.fp7
com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.portal.bom
Maven
< 7.3.1
7.3.1
com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl
maven/com.liferay.portal/com.liferay.portal.impl
Maven
< 7.1.3
7.1.3

References

NVD — CVE-2020-15840 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15840
Com.liferay.portal.impl Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal
issues.liferay.com/browse/lpe-17046 WEB
https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17046
Com.liferay.portal.impl Security Information SECURITY
https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities
Com.liferay.portal.impl Security Information SECURITY
https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/HbL5mxmVrnXW/content/id/119772204
Com.liferay.portal.impl Security Information SECURITY
https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-COMLIFERAYPORTAL-1296538

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-15840?
CVE-2020-15840 is a security vulnerability in Com.liferay.portal.impl involving Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP Bypass via Double Encoded URL under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Com.liferay.portal.impl versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 7.4.0, 7.0.10.fp93, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp7, 7.3.1, 7.1.3 across affected packages: com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom, com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom.
What version fixes CVE-2020-15840?
Upgrading to 7.4.0, 7.0.10.fp93, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp7, 7.3.1, 7.1.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is com.liferay.portal.impl affected?
Yes, com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl is affected in releases prior to 7.4.0, 7.1.3. Upgrade your dependency to 7.4.0, 7.1.3 or later.
Is release.dxp.bom affected?
Yes, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom is affected in releases prior to 7.0.10.fp93, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp7. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.10.fp93, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp7 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-15840?
CVE-2020-15840 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-2020-15840?
CVE-2020-15840 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-15840?
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-vrwx-q9pj-x488",
  "modified" : "2025-05-28T20:02:42Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:29:22Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-15840" ],
  "summary" : "Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP Bypass via Double Encoded URL",
  "details" : "In Liferay Portal before 7.3.1, com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl before 7.1.3 and 7.4.0, Liferay Portal 6.2 EE, and Liferay DXP 7.2, DXP 7.1 and DXP 7.0, the property 'portlet.resource.id.banned.paths.regexp' can be bypassed with doubled encoded URLs.",
  "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" : "com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.4.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.0.10.fp93"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.1.10.fp19"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.2.10.fp7"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.portal.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.3.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.impl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.1.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15840"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17046"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/HbL5mxmVrnXW/content/id/119772204"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-COMLIFERAYPORTAL-1296538"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-05-28T20:02:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-09-24T15:15:00Z"
  }
}