---
title: "CVE-2020-9281\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-9281?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2020-9281

Publication date 7 March 2020

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**6.1 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-9281?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the HTML Data Processor for
CKEditor 4.0 before 4.14 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web
script through a crafted "protected" comment (with the cke\_protected
syntax).

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ckeditor | 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 21.04 hirsute | Ignored end of life |
| 20.10 groovy | Ignored end of life |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 4.12.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1 |
| 19.10 eoan | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 4.5.7+dfsg-2ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 4.5.7+dfsg-2ubuntu0.16.04.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

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## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

6.1 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | Scope | Changed |
  | Confidentiality impact | Low |
  | Integrity impact | Low |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 6.1 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-9281)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9281)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2020-9281)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-9281)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-5340-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-5340-1)
+ CKEditor vulnerabilities
+ 22 March 2022

+ [USN-5340-2](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-5340-2)
+ CKEditor vulnerabilities
+ 23 March 2022

### Other references

* <https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9281>