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The SafeHtml annotation in Hibernate-Validator does not properly guard against XSS attacks

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jan 8, 2020 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Aug 11, 2025

Package

maven org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator (Maven)

Affected versions

>= 6.1.0.Alpha1, < 6.1.0.Alpha6
>= 6.0.0.Alpha1, <= 6.0.17.Final

Patched versions

6.1.0.Alpha6
6.0.18.Final

Description

A vulnerability was found in Hibernate-Validator. The SafeHtml validator annotation fails to properly sanitize payloads consisting of potentially malicious code in HTML comments and instructions. This vulnerability can result in an XSS attack.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Nov 8, 2019
Reviewed Jan 8, 2020
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jan 8, 2020
Last updated Aug 11, 2025

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(82nd percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2019-10219

GHSA ID

GHSA-m8p2-495h-ccmh

Source code

Credits

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