CVE-2020-13692 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.7) XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in org.postgresql:postgresql. A fix is available for org.postgresql:postgresql — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2020-13692 by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). Outside the shaded patch-first corner.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 385,386 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the < 10% band (highlighted). Counts from FIRST.org, log-scaled.
Real-World Exposure
org.postgresql:postgresqlReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
PostgreSQL JDBC Driver (aka PgJDBC) before 42.2.13 allows XXE.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.postgresql:postgresql | ≥ 9.4.1212.jre6&&< 42.2.13 | 42.2.13org.postgresql:postgresql:42.2.13 |
Affected Products
debian linuxdebianfedorafedoraprojectsteelstore cloud integrated storagenetapppostgresql jdbc driverpostgresqlquarkusquarkusDetection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.postgresql:postgresql, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.postgresql:postgresql to 42.2.13 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2020-13692 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
Fixing This On Your OS
If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.
| Product | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat AMQ Online 1.5.2 GA | jdbc-postgresql | RHSA-2020:3209 |
| Red Hat build of Quarkus 1.3.4 SP1 | quarkus-jdbc-postgresql | RHSA-2020:3248 |
| Red Hat Decision Manager 7 | jdbc-postgresql | RHSA-2020:3675 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | postgresql-jdbc-0:8.4.704-4.el6_10 | RHSA-2020:3284 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | postgresql-jdbc-0:9.2.1002-8.el7_8 | RHSA-2020:3285 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | postgresql-jdbc-0:42.2.3-3.el8_2 | RHSA-2020:3176 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions | postgresql-jdbc-0:42.2.3-3.el8_0 | RHSA-2020:3283 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.1 Extended Update Support | postgresql-jdbc-0:42.2.3-3.el8_1 | RHSA-2020:3286 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-13692 in your dependencies?
Find it across Maven, including transitive dependencies.