`, which results in the enclosed script logic to be executed. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpgrade to version 1.9.0 or later.","image":"https://o3.security/opengraph.png","datePublished":"2020-05-19T21:15:10.257Z","dateModified":"2026-10-24T10:30:43.667578169Z","url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7656","inLanguage":"en","author":{"@id":"https://o3.security/#organization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://o3.security/#organization"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7656"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["h1",".vuln-summary",".vuln-severity",".vuln-mitigation"]},"about":[{"@type":"SoftwareApplication","name":"org.webjars.npm:jquery","applicationCategory":"Maven","softwareVersion":"1.9.0"},{"@type":"SoftwareApplication","name":"jquery","applicationCategory":"npm","softwareVersion":"1.9.0"},{"@type":"SoftwareApplication","name":"jQuery","applicationCategory":"NuGet","softwareVersion":"1.9.0"},{"@type":"SoftwareApplication","name":"jquery-rails","applicationCategory":"RubyGems","softwareVersion":"2.2.0"}],"citation":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"NVD","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7656"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"OSV.dev","url":"https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7656"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"FIRST.org EPSS","url":"https://www.first.org/epss/api-data?cve=CVE-2020-7656"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200528-0001/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://supportportal.juniper.net/s/article/2021-07-Security-Bulletin-Junos-OS-Multiple-J-Web-vulnerabilities-resolved-in-Junos-OS-21-2R1?language=en_US"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://github.com/jquery/jquery/commit/05531fc4080ae24070930d15ae0cea7ae056457d"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://github.com/jquery/jquery/commit/606b863edaff29035960e4d813b45d63b8d92876"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://github.com/jquery/jquery/blob/9e6393b0bcb52b15313f88141d0bd7dd54227426/src/ajax.js#L203"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","url":"https://github.com/rails/jquery-rails/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#220-19-january-2013"}]}`, which results in the enclosed script logic to be executed. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpgrade to version 1.9.0 or later.","url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7656","identifier":"CVE-2020-7656","datePublished":"2020-05-19T21:15:10.257Z","dateModified":"2026-10-24T10:30:43.667578169Z","inLanguage":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","keywords":["CVE-2020-7656","MEDIUM severity","CWE-79","CVE","vulnerability","security advisory"],"creator":{"@id":"https://o3.security/#organization"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"citation":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"NVD","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7656"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"OSV.dev","url":"https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7656"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"FIRST.org EPSS","url":"https://www.first.org/epss/api-data?cve=CVE-2020-7656"}],"variableMeasured":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"CVSS Base Score","value":6.1,"description":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"Severity","value":"MEDIUM"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"EPSS Percentile","value":94}]}`, which results in the enclosed script logic to be executed. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpgrade to version 1.9.0 or later."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How severe is CVE-2020-7656?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CVE-2020-7656 has a CVSS score of 6.1/10, rated MEDIUM. Review your exposure and patch according to your risk tolerance."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which packages are affected by CVE-2020-7656?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CVE-2020-7656 affects the following packages: org.webjars.npm:jquery (Maven), jquery (npm), jQuery (NuGet), jquery-rails (RubyGems). Ecosystems affected: Maven, npm, NuGet, RubyGems."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I fix CVE-2020-7656?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Update org.webjars.npm:jquery to 1.9.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2020-7656 is resolved across your whole dependency graph."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I detect CVE-2020-7656 in my Maven, npm, NuGet, RubyGems dependencies?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.webjars.npm:jquery, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I mitigate CVE-2020-7656 if there is no patch (or I can't update yet)?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Escape or sanitise the affected output on the server side rather than relying on client-side filtering, and add a Content-Security-Policy that blocks inline script execution so injected markup cannot run even if it reaches the page."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is CVE-2020-7656 actively exploited in the wild?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. There are 2 known exploit references for CVE-2020-7656, including 1 documented proof-of-concept exploit on Exploit-DB and 1 in-the-wild exploitation observed on GitHub and other sources. Treat this as actively exploitable and prioritize patching immediately. All exploit code should only be run in an isolated sandbox environment for research or authorized testing — never against production systems without explicit written authorization."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the EPSS score for CVE-2020-7656?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CVE-2020-7656 has an EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) score of 6.4%, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CVEs. EPSS is maintained by FIRST.org and estimates the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. This score indicates relatively lower exploitation probability, though the CVSS severity should still guide your patching priority."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What type of vulnerability is CVE-2020-7656?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CVE-2020-7656 is classified as Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79). This weakness type describe the underlying flaw category, which helps determine the potential impact and the right class of mitigation. This is a high-impact weakness class that often enables remote code execution or data exposure."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"When was CVE-2020-7656 published, and has it been updated?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CVE-2020-7656 was published on May 19, 2020 and was last updated on October 24, 2026. Advisory data evolves as severity scores, affected ranges, and exploit intelligence are revised — always check the latest version of the advisory before acting."}}]}
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Not in CISA KEV
MEDIUM severity

CVE-2020-7656 — jquery

MEDIUMFix: jquery/jquery@05531fc

CVE-2020-7656 is a medium-severity (CVSS 6.1) Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in org.webjars.npm:jquery. 2 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.webjars.npm:jquery — see the affected versions and patch details below.

Cross-Site Scripting in jquery

Also known asGHSA-q4m3-2j7h-f7xwSNYK-JS-JQUERY-569619
Published
Updated
Affected
4 pkgs
Patched
4 / 4
Exploits
2 known
Exploitation data as of Oct 28, 2026 · OSV.dev, NVD, FIRST.org (EPSS)

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗
6.4%probability of exploitation in next 30 days
Lower Risk+0.16%
Lower risk than most CVEs94th percentile — riskier than 94% of all scored CVEsHighest risk
0.00%2.70%5.39%8.09%1.1%6.4%Apr 26Aug 26Oct 26

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.

How urgent is this, really

CVE-2020-7656 by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). Outside the shaded patch-first corner.

Where this sits among everything scored

Of 397,508 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the < 10% band (highlighted). Counts from FIRST.org, log-scaled.

Real-World Exposure

4 pkgs affected

How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, and reverse-dependency count shows how many other packages break if it stays unpatched.

22Kother npm packages depend on this — each one inherits the vulnerability until it's patched upstream
jquerynpm
11.7Mdownloads / week

Description

Versions of jquery prior to 1.9.0 are vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting. The load method fails to recognize and remove <script> HTML tags that contain a whitespace character, i.e: </script >, which results in the enclosed script logic to be executed. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser.

Recommendation

Upgrade to version 1.9.0 or later.

Affected Packages

4 total 4 fixed
EcosystemPackageVulnerable rangeFix
☕Mavenorg.webjars.npm:jquery≥ 1.2.1&&< 1.9.01.9.0org.webjars.npm:jquery:1.9.0
📦npmjquery≥ 1.2.1&&< 1.9.01.9.0npm install jquery@1.9.0
.NETNuGetjQuery≥ 1.2.1&&< 1.9.01.9.0dotnet add package jQuery --version 1.9.0
💎RubyGemsjquery-railsall versions2.2.0bundle update jquery-rails --conservative

Affected Products

7 products · 9 configurations
Application
jqueryjquery
< 1.9.0
range
OS
junosjuniper
1 version
21.2
Application
active iq unified managernetapp
all
Application
cloud backupnetapp
all
Application
oncommand system managernetapp
≥ 3.0.0 && ≤ 3.1.3
range
Application
snap creator frameworknetapp
all
Exploits & PoCs
2

Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.

EDB-52141webappsmultiple

jQuery 3.3.1 - Prototype Pollution & XSS Exploit

by xOryus · Apr 8, 2025

Exploit-DB Source

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency

  1. Detect

    Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.webjars.npm:jquery, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.

  2. Fix

    Update org.webjars.npm:jquery to 1.9.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2020-7656 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

  3. Workarounds

    Escape or sanitise the affected output on the server side rather than relying on client-side filtering, and add a Content-Security-Policy that blocks inline script execution so injected markup cannot run even if it reaches the page.

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.

Red HatModerate

Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 6, 7 and 8 ship a vulnerable version of JQuery in the `pcs` component. However the vulnerable has not been found to be exploitable in reasonable scenarios. A future update may update JQuery to a fixed version.

ProductFixed inAdvisory
A-MQ Interconnect 1.y for RHEL 6qpid-dispatch-0:1.13.0-3.el6_10RHSA-2020:4211
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8pcs-0:0.10.10-4.el8RHSA-2021:4142

Frequently Asked Questions

Versions of `jquery` prior to 1.9.0 are vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting. The load method fails to recognize and remove `<script>` HTML tags that contain a whitespace character, i.e: `</script >`, which results in the enclosed script logic to be executed. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser. ## Recommendation Upgrade to version 1.9.0 or later.
O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

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CVE-2020-7656: jquery XSS — Fixed in 1.9.0