Description
The default error page for VelocityView in Apache Velocity Tools prior to 3.1 reflects back the vm file that was entered as part of the URL. An attacker can set an XSS payload file as this vm file in the URL which results in this payload being executed. XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the attacked website and the attacked user. This can be abused to steal session cookies, perform requests in the name of the victim or for phishing attacks.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Apache Velocity Tools | Apache Velocity Tools – < 3.1 | 3.1 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | velocity-tools | 2.0-8 | — |
| Debian 13 | velocity-tools | 2.0-8 | — |
| Debian 12 | velocity-tools | 2.0-8 | — |
| Debian 9 | velocity-tools | 2.0-6+deb9u1 | DLA-2597-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | velocity-tools | 2.0-7ubuntu0.20.04.1 | USN-6282-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | velocity-tools | 2.0-7ubuntu0.18.04.1~esm1 | USN-6282-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | velocity-tools | 2.0-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6282-1 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | org.apache.velocity:velocity-tools | <= 2.0 | — | GHSA-fh63-4r66-jc7v |
| Maven | org.apache.velocity.tools:velocity-tools-parent | < 3.1 | 3.1 | GHSA-fh63-4r66-jc7v |
Advisories 2
- USN-6282-1 velocity-tools vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- DLA-2597-1 velocity-tools - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6802a38c3041059e763a1aadd7b37fe95de75408144b5805e29b84e3%40%3Cuser.velocity.apache.org%3E
- [velocity-commits] 20210310 [velocity-site] 01/01: CVE announcement mailing-list
- [announce] 20210310 CVE-2020-13959: Velocity Tools XSS Vulnerability mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20210309 CVE-2020-13959: Velocity Tools XSS Vulnerability mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210317 [SECURITY] [DLA 2597-1] velocity-tools security update mailing-list
- [velocity-user] 20210318 Re: CVE-2020-13959: Velocity Tools XSS Vulnerability mailing-list
- GLSA-202107-52 vendor-advisory