libxml2 through 2.9.1 does not properly handle external entities expansion unless an application developer uses the xmlSAX2ResolveEntity or
libxml2 through 2.9.1 does not properly handle external entities expansion unless an application developer uses the xmlSAX2ResolveEntity or xmlSetExternalEntityLoader function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption), send HTTP requests to intranet servers, or read arbitrary files via a crafted XML document, aka an XML External Entity (XXE) issue. NOTE: it could be argued that because libxml2 already provides the ability to disable external entity expansion, the responsibility for resolving this issue lies with application developers; according to this argument, this entry should be REJECTed and each affected application would need its own CVE.
- Published
- Jan 21, 2014
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 3.6% · 89th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-264
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Report tools
Action score
28
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 27 / 40 · 6.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 3.6%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| xmlsoft | libxml2 | cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2 |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| suse | linux enterprise server | cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- canonical ubuntu linux10.04
- canonical ubuntu linux12.04
- canonical ubuntu linux12.10
- canonical ubuntu linux13.04
- debian debian linux6.0
- debian debian linux7.0
- suse linux enterprise server10
- xmlsoft libxml2up to 2.9.1 inclusive
- xmlsoft libxml21.7.0
- xmlsoft libxml21.7.1
- xmlsoft libxml21.7.2
- xmlsoft libxml21.7.3
- xmlsoft libxml21.7.4
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.0
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.1
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.10
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.13
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.14
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.16
- xmlsoft libxml21.8.2
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libxml2 | before 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+nmu1 | 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+nmu1 |
| Debian:6.0 | libxml2 | before 2.7.8.dfsg-2+squeeze7 | 2.7.8.dfsg-2+squeeze7 |
Same product
xmlsoft: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2008-3529Heap-based buffer overflow in the xmlParseAttValueComplex function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.7.0 allows context-dependent attackers to47Plan
- CVE-2017-7376Buffer overflow in libxml2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging an incorrect limit for port values when handling 46Plan
- CVE-2022-40303An issue was discovered in libxml2 before 2.10.3.42Plan
- CVE-2021-3518There's a flaw in libxml2 in versions before 2.9.11.42Plan
- CVE-2011-1944Integer overflow in xpath.c in libxml2 2.6.x through 2.6.32 and 2.7.x through 2.7.8, and libxml 1.8.16 and earlier, allows context-dependent41Plan
- CVE-2017-7375A flaw in libxml2 allows remote XML entity inclusion with default parser flags (i.e., when the caller did not request entity substitution, D40Plan
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:libxml2 | 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+nmu1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- P · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- P · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- P
- Availability impact
- P
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-264 · Permissions, Privileges, and Access ControlsCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-11/msg00002.html
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/02/21/24
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/02/22/3
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2013/q4/182
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2013/q4/184
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2013/q4/188
- secunia.com/advisories/52662
- secunia.com/advisories/54172
- secunia.com/advisories/55568
- www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2652
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/04/12/6
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1904-1
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1904-2
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=915149
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.