# CVE-2020-10544: PrimeFaces cross-site scripting in tooltip

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-10544-primefaces-cross-site-scripting-in-tooltip  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-05-07. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-10544 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2021-05-07

PrimeFaces is a popular JSF component library used to build enterprise web applications. A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the tooltip feature allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through tooltip titles, which execute in the browsers of users viewing the page. This could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or malware distribution.

Vendors: [Maven](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/maven), [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-10544 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2020-10544 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2020-10544?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 7 May 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** org.primefaces:primefaces (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=8.0; primefaces (npm) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=8.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-10544?** Yes. org.primefaces:primefaces (Maven): upgrade to 8.0 or later; primefaces (npm): upgrade to 8.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-10544 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-10544?** Check whether you run org.primefaces:primefaces (Maven) or primefaces (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- org.primefaces:primefaces (Maven): upgrade to 8.0 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.primefaces:primefaces to 8.0 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- primefaces (npm): upgrade to 8.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install primefaces@8.0
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the tooltip.js component, specifically in the bindTarget function, where user-supplied input used as a tooltip title is not properly HTML-escaped before rendering. An attacker can inject JavaScript code into a tooltip's title attribute (e.g., through an input field), and when the tooltip is displayed, the script executes in the victim's browser with the privileges of the web application. The attack requires network access to a vulnerable PrimeFaces application but does not require authentication or special preconditions. The vulnerability was fixed in PrimeFaces 8.0; all versions prior to 8.0 (including 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, and 7.x) are affected.

## Affected products

- PrimeTek PrimeFaces 4.0 through 7.x, prior to 8.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-10544
- GHSA-fw5f-7c6c-3vmv

## Timeline

- 2020-03-13: disclosed: Vulnerability reported to NVD
- 2021-05-07: advisory: GHSA advisory published
- 2020: patched: Fixed in PrimeFaces 8.0

## References

- [https://github.com/primefaces/primefaces/issues/5642](https://github.com/primefaces/primefaces/issues/5642)

## Related threats

- [Inadequate Encryption Strength](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2017-1000486-primetek-primefaces-remote-code-execution-vulnerability)