CVE-2020-18705Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via unfiltered feed metadata

Published Aug 16, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

XML external entity injection in Quokka 0.4.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through generated author feeds. quokka/core/content/views.py passes unfiltered author and category strings into RSS and Atom feed generation, allowing attacker-supplied XML markup to enter the document. Reachability requires attacker-controlled article metadata to be rendered through a feed endpoint; the published consequence is arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XML external entity injection in Quokka 0.4.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through generated author feeds. quokka/core/content/views.py passes unfiltered author and category strings into RSS and Atom feed generation, allowing attacker-supplied XML markup to enter the document. Reachability requires attacker-controlled article metadata to be rendered through a feed endpoint; the published consequence is arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-18705
Published
Aug 16, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-611, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 16, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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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