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Syncope CVE-2020-1961

CRITICAL
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') (CWE-74)
2020-05-04 security@apache.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Input neutralization, injection prevention
Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the critical-severity affected system.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 4.6% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Vulnerability to Server-Side Template Injection on Mail templates for Apache Syncope 2.0.X releases prior to 2.0.15, 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.6, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary JEXL. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affected Packages

maven org.apache.syncope:syncope-core fix: 2.0.15, 2.1.6

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in maven

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74. Vulnerability to Server-Side Template Injection on Mail templates for Apache Syncope 2.0.X releases prior to 2.0.15, 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.6, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary JEXL expressions, leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE) was discovered. Affected products include: Apache Syncope. Version information: prior to 2.0.15.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

Vulnerability to Server-Side Template Injection on Mail templates for Apache Syncope 2.0.X releases prior to 2.0.15, 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.6, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary JEXL expressions, leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE) was discovered.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
4.6%
Top 9% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 4.6%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

54
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +5
CVSS: +49
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:apache:syncope:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:syncope:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2018-1321 HIGH POC
7.2 Mar 20

An administrator with report and template entitlements in Apache Syncope 1.2.x before 1.2.11, 2.0.x before 2.0.8, and un

CVE-2026-75030 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 14

Missing authorization in Apache Syncope (3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.7, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.2) le

CVE-2026-77181 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 14

Incorrect authorization in Apache Syncope allows a delegated administrator who holds only the ClientApp CREATE entitleme

CVE-2026-73668 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 14

Cross-realm authorization bypass in Apache Syncope allows an administrator who already holds delegated entitlements in o

CVE-2026-73579 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 14

Incorrect authorization in Apache Syncope (3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.7, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.2)

CVE-2020-1959 CRITICAL
9.8 May 04

A Server-Side Template Injection was identified in Apache Syncope prior to 2.1.6 enabling attackers to inject arbitrary

CVE-2018-1322 MEDIUM POC
4.9 Mar 20

An administrator with user search entitlements in Apache Syncope 1.2.x before 1.2.11, 2.0.x before 2.0.8, and unsupporte

CVE-2025-65998 HIGH
7.5 Nov 24

Apache Syncope can be configured to store the user password values in the internal database with AES encryption, though

CVE-2025-57738 HIGH
7.2 Oct 20

Apache Syncope's pluggable extension mechanism lets a user holding administrator rights supply custom interface implemen

CVE-2020-11977 HIGH
7.2 Sep 15

In Apache Syncope 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.7, when the Flowable extension is enabled, an administrator with workflow

CVE-2018-17186 HIGH
7.2 Nov 06

An administrator with workflow definition entitlements can use DTD to perform malicious operations, including but not li

CVE-2026-77051 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 14

Stacked SQL injection in Apache Syncope (3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.7, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.2) al

References

Advisories & patches

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