CVE-2020-13940
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache NiFi
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
CVE-2020-13940- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.3 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
CVE-2020-13940- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-0671 No score
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
EUVD-2022-0671- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-q4xf-3pmq-3hw8
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache NiFi
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
GHSA-q4xf-3pmq-3hw8- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
CVE-2020-13940- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-q4xf-3pmq-3hw8
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache NiFi
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
GHSA-q4xf-3pmq-3hw8- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-nifi-2020-13940 No score
In Apache NiFi 1.0.0 to 1.11.4, the notification service manager and various policy authorizer and user group provider objects allowed trusted administrators to inadvertently configure a potentially malicious XML file. The XML file has the ability to make external calls to services (via XXE).
- Record
BIT-nifi-2020-13940- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13324-1 No score
tuxguitar-1.6.0-2.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the tuxguitar-1.6.0-2.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13324-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.nifi:nifiMaven |
1.0.0 to 1.11.4 | 1.12.0-RC1 |
nifiBitnami |
1.0.0 to 1.11.4 | None known |
org.apache.nifi:nifiMaven |
1.0.0 up to 1.12.0-RC1, plus listed versions 1.0.11.1.01.1.11.1.21.10.0 Show 16 moreShow less1.11.01.11.11.11.21.11.31.11.41.2.01.3.01.4.01.5.01.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.01.9.11.9.2 |
1.12.0-RC1 |
tuxguitaropenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.6.0-2.1 | 1.6.0-2.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases, products | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-13940 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Apache Nifi, published October 1, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.91%, the 79th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.nifi:nifi 1.12.0-RC1.