CVE-2020-5529
Code execution vulnerability in HtmlUnit
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.1
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
CVE-2020-5529- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-665, CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List
8.1
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
CVE-2020-5529- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-0412
8.1
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
EUVD-2020-0412- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-5mh9-r3rr-9597
8.1
Code execution vulnerability in HtmlUnit
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
GHSA-5mh9-r3rr-9597- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-94, CWE-665
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.1
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
CVE-2020-5529- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-5mh9-r3rr-9597
8.1
Code execution vulnerability in HtmlUnit
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
GHSA-5mh9-r3rr-9597- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-665, CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-5529
8.1
HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities. HtmlUnit initializes Rhino engine improperly, hence a malicious JavScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application. Moreover, when embedded in Android application, Android-specific initialization of Rhino engine is done in an improper way, hence a malicious JavaScript code can execute arbitrary Java code on the application.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-5529- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2021-0148 No score
Updated htmlunit packages fix security vulnerability
It was discovered that HtmlUnit incorrectly initialized Rhino engine. An Attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary Java code (CVE-2020-5529).
- Record
MGASA-2021-0148- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4584-1 No score
htmlunit vulnerability
It was discovered that HtmlUnit incorrectly initialized Rhino engine. An Attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary Java code.
- Record
USN-4584-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
net.sourceforge.htmlunit:htmlunitMaven |
before 2.37.0 | 2.37.0 |
htmlunitDebian:9 |
before 2.8-2+deb9u1, plus listed versions 2.8-2 |
2.8-2+deb9u1 |
net.sourceforge.htmlunit:htmlunitMaven |
before 2.37.0, plus listed versions 1.142.02.12.1.52.10 Show 35 moreShow less2.112.122.132.142.152.162.172.182.192.22.202.212.222.232.242.252.262.272.282.292.32.302.312.322.332.34.02.34.12.35.02.36.02.42.52.62.72.82.9 |
2.37.0 |
htmlunitMageia:7 |
before 2.23-2.1.mga7 | 2.23-2.1.mga7 |
htmlunitUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 2.8-1ubuntu2.1, plus listed versions 2.8-1ubuntu2 |
2.8-1ubuntu2.1 |
htmlunitUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.8-2ubuntu12.8-3ubuntu12.8-3ubuntu1+esm1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-5529 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Htmlunit, published February 11, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 4.72%, the 91st percentile. Fixed in net.sourceforge.htmlunit:htmlunit 2.37.0.
References
github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/releases/tag/2.37.0
jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN34535327
lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra2cd7f8e61dc6b8a2d9065094cd1f46aa63ad10f237ee363e26e8563%40%3Ccommits.camel.apache.org%3E
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00023.html
usn.ubuntu.com/4584-1
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5529
Show 10 moreShow less
github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/commit/bc1f58d483cc8854a9c4c1739abd5e04a2eb0367
lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra2cd7f8e61dc6b8a2d9065094cd1f46aa63ad10f237ee363e26e8563@%3Ccommits.camel.apache.org%3E
github.com/advisories/GHSA-5mh9-r3rr-9597
github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2021-0148.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=27167
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4584-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-5529
github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/commit/934390fefcd2cd58e6d86f2bc19d811ae17bfa28
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5529