CVE-2020-11987 in Insurance Policy Administration Operational Data Store for Life and Annuity
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2021
Apache Batik 1.13 is vulnerable to server-side request forgery, caused by improper input validation by the NodePickerPanel. By using a specially-crafted argument, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the underlying server to make arbitrary GET requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2025
Apache Batik version 1.13 contains a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11987 that stems from inadequate input validation within the NodePickerPanel component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-918 category of Server-Side Request Forgery, where the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before using it in HTTP requests. The flaw specifically manifests in the NodePickerPanel class which processes user arguments without sufficient sanitization, allowing malicious actors to inject crafted parameters that bypass normal security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the NodePickerPanel processes user-provided input that is subsequently used to construct HTTP requests to external resources. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious arguments that contain specially formatted URLs or URI schemes, enabling them to force the vulnerable server to initiate arbitrary GET requests to internal or external targets. This behavior represents a classic SSRF attack vector where the server acts as an unwitting proxy for malicious requests, potentially exposing internal network resources or bypassing access controls that would normally prevent direct access to sensitive systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance of internal network services, access restricted resources, or even facilitate further attacks through the exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the internal infrastructure. The vulnerability affects any system running Apache Batik 1.13 that processes user input through the NodePickerPanel component, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the software is used to process untrusted data from web applications or user interfaces. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed through the web interface, making it a significant risk for applications that rely on Batik for SVG processing and rendering.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to Apache Batik version 1.14 or later where the issue has been resolved. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at multiple layers, including application-level sanitization of user inputs and network-level restrictions that prevent outbound requests to internal network ranges. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Proxying, as it enables attackers to use the compromised server as a proxy for external communications. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, using firewall rules to restrict outbound connections, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar input validation flaws in other components of the application stack.