HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2020-5529
HIGH

CVE-2020-5529

CWE-665Published: February 11, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.1
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

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.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-5529 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.1.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Apache1 product(s)
camel
Canonical1 product(s)
ubuntu linux
Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
htmlunit1 product(s)
htmlunit
Source: NVD CPE · 4 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/releases/tag/2.37.0
ADVISORYhttps://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN34535327/
ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00023.html
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4584-1/
ADVISORYhttps://github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/releases/tag/2.37.0
ADVISORYhttps://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN34535327/
ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00023.html
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4584-1/

All References (10)

→
https://github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/releases/tag/2.37.0Release Notes · Third Party Advisory
→
https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN34535327/Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra2cd7f8e61dc6b8a2d9065094cd1f46aa63ad10f237ee363e26e8563%40%3Ccommits.camel.apache.org%3E
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00023.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4584-1/Third Party Advisory
→
https://github.com/HtmlUnit/htmlunit/releases/tag/2.37.0Release Notes · Third Party Advisory
→
https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN34535327/Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra2cd7f8e61dc6b8a2d9065094cd1f46aa63ad10f237ee363e26e8563%40%3Ccommits.camel.apache.org%3E
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00023.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4584-1/Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2020-5529
CVSS Score8.1 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-665
CISA KEVNo
Affected4 vendor(s)
PublishedFeb 11, 2020

Related CVEs (CWE-665)

CVE-2023-20591
10.0
CVE-2019-10196
9.8
CVE-2018-11949
9.8
CVE-2015-8367
9.8
CVE-2019-14271
9.8
CVE-2022-0947
9.8

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2020-5529 in threat intel feeds
  • →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.
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