CVE-2020-5227
CVE-2020-5227 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Feedgen Project Feedgen with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4. 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-776.
Key facts
- Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.4)
- CVSS v2: 5.0
- EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (73rd percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-776
- Affected product: Feedgen Project Feedgen
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Feedgen (python feedgen) before 0.9.0 is susceptible to XML Denial of Service attacks. The *feedgen* library allows supplying XML as content for some of the available fields. This XML will be parsed and integrated into the existing XML tree. During this process, feedgen is vulnerable to XML Denial of Service Attacks (e.g. XML Bomb). This becomes a concern in particular if feedgen is used to include content from untrused sources and if XML (including XHTML) is directly included instead of providing plain tex content only. This problem has been fixed in feedgen 0.9.0 which disallows XML entity expansion and external resources.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2020-5227?
- Feedgen (python feedgen) before 0.9.0 is susceptible to XML Denial of Service attacks. The *feedgen* library allows supplying XML as content for some of the available fields. This XML will be parsed and integrated into the existing XML tree. During this process, feedgen is vulnerable to XML Denial of Service Attacks (e.g. XML Bomb). This becomes a concern in particular if feedgen is used to include content from untrused sources and if XML (including XHTML) is directly included instead of providing plain tex content only. This problem has been fixed in feedgen 0.9.0 which disallows XML entity expansion and external resources.
- How severe is CVE-2020-5227?
- CVE-2020-5227 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2020-5227 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (73rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2020-5227?
- CVE-2020-5227 affects Feedgen Project Feedgen. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2020-5227?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
- When was CVE-2020-5227 published?
- CVE-2020-5227 was published on 2020-01-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/msdn-magazine/2009/november/xml-denial-of-service-attacks-and-defenses
- https://github.com/lkiesow/python-feedgen/commit/f57a01b20fa4aaaeccfa417f28e66b4084b9d0cf
- https://github.com/lkiesow/python-feedgen/security/advisories/GHSA-g8q7-xv52-hf9f
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T6I5ENUYGFNMIH6ZQ62FZ6VU2WD3SIOI/
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:feedgen_project:feedgen:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
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- CVE-2013-4335 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): opOpenSocialPlugin 0.8.2.1, > 0.9.9.2, 0.9.13, 1.2.6: Multiple XML External Entity Injection Vulnerabilities
- CVE-2021-23926 — Critical (CVSS 9.1): The XML parsers used by XMLBeans up to version 2.6.0 did not set the properties needed to protect the user from…
- CVE-2020-24590 — Critical (CVSS 9.1): The Management Console in WSO2 API Manager through 3.1.0 and API Microgateway 2.2.0 allows XML Entity Expansion attacks.