CVE-2020-11987Network attack vector

Server-side request forgery via external DTD loading

Published Feb 24, 2021 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Server-side request forgery in Apache Batik 1.13 and earlier allows attackers to make arbitrary GET requests through NodePickerPanel. The parseXml method creates a DocumentBuilder without disabling external entities or external DTD loading, so crafted XML resolves an attacker-selected URL. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled XML to reach the Squiggle SVG browser's node picker, and the request can read HTTP resources reachable from the host.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability13.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Server-side request forgery in Apache Batik 1.13 and earlier allows attackers to make arbitrary GET requests through NodePickerPanel. The parseXml method creates a DocumentBuilder without disabling external entities or external DTD loading, so crafted XML resolves an attacker-selected URL. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled XML to reach the Squiggle SVG browser's node picker, and the request can read HTTP resources reachable from the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-11987
Published
Feb 24, 2021
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Batik
Classifications
CWE-20, CWE-918, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Apache Batik 1.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Batikversion=Apache Batik 1.13

Published CVSS scores

6.4National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
8.2GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
CWE-918Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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