How severe is CVE-2020-13940?

CVE-2020-13940 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-13940 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (77th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-13940?

CVE-2020-13940 affects Apache Nifi. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-13940?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-13940 published?

CVE-2020-13940 was published on 2020-10-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-13940

CVE-2020-13940 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Nifi with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-611.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (77th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Apache Nifi
Published: 2020-10-01
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

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).

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-13940?: 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).
How severe is CVE-2020-13940?: CVE-2020-13940 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2020-13940 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (77th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-13940?: CVE-2020-13940 affects Apache Nifi. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-13940?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-13940 published?: CVE-2020-13940 was published on 2020-10-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://nifi.apache.org/security#CVE-2020-13940

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:apache:nifi:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Apache Nifi

CVE-2018-1309 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Apache NiFi External XML Entity issue in SplitXML processor. Malicious XML content could cause information disclosure…
CVE-2017-15697 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A malicious X-ProxyContextPath or X-Forwarded-Context header containing external resources or embedded code could cause…
CVE-2017-5636 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Apache NiFi before 0.7.2 and 1.x before 1.1.2 in a cluster environment, the proxy chain…
CVE-2026-39816 — High (CVSS 8.8): The optional extension component TinkerpopClientService is missing the Restricted annotation with the Execute Code…
CVE-2025-66524 — High (CVSS 8.8): Apache NiFi 1.20.0 through 2.6.0 include the GetAsanaObject Processor, which requires integration with a configurable…
CVE-2023-36542 — High (CVSS 8.8): Apache NiFi 0.0.2 through 1.22.0 include Processors and Controller Services that support HTTP URL references for…

All CVEs affecting Apache Nifi →

Other CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE)) vulnerabilities

CVE-2022-22486 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler 9.4, 9.5, and 10.1 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when…
CVE-2019-14678 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SAS XML Mapper 9.45 has an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability that can be leveraged by malicious attackers in…
CVE-2015-9280 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): MailEnable before 8.60 allows XXE via an XML document in the request.aspx Options parameter.
CVE-2018-1000838 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): autopsy version <= 4.9.0 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in CaseMetadata XML Parser that can result…
CVE-2018-1000837 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): UML Designer version <= 8.0.0 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in XML parser for plugins that can…
CVE-2018-1000835 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): KeePassDX version <= 2.5.0.0beta17 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in kdbx file parser that can…

Browse all CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE)) vulnerabilities →