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CVE-2017-12627· NVD / CVE Program· CNA apache

In Apache Xerces-C XML Parser library before 3.2.1, processing of external DTD paths can result in a null pointer dereference under certain

In Apache Xerces-C XML Parser library before 3.2.1, processing of external DTD paths can result in a null pointer dereference under certain conditions.

CriticalCVSS 9.8 · v3.0—No exploit Fix available
Published
Mar 1, 2018
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
8.4% · 95th percentile
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Action score

42

Plan

Add it to your regular patch cycle.

CVSS
39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
3 / 30 · 8.4%

Affected systems

VendorProduct
apachexerces-c\+\+

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • apache xerces-c++before 3.2.1

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (apache). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Apache Software Foundation Apache Xerces C++

    • < 3.2.1affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12xerces-cbefore 3.2.1+debian-13.2.1+debian-1
Debian:7xerces-cbefore 3.1.1-3+deb7u53.1.1-3+deb7u5
openSUSE:Leap 15.0xerces-cbefore 3.1.4-lp150.2.3.13.1.4-lp150.2.3.1
openSUSE:Tumbleweedxerces-cbefore 3.2.3-1.93.2.3-1.9
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15xerces-cbefore 3.1.4-3.3.253.1.4-3.3.25
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4Xerces-cbefore 2.8.0-29.17.5.12.8.0-29.17.5.1
SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7xerces-cbefore 3.1.1-13.3.63.1.1-13.3.6

Same product

apache: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2016-2099Use-after-free vulnerability in validators/DTD/DTDScanner.cpp in Apache Xerces C++ 3.1.3 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to h
    41Plan
  • CVE-2024-23807Apache Xerces C++: Use-after-free on external DTD scan
    39Monitor
  • CVE-2023-37536HCL BigFix Platform is vulnerable to an integer overflow in xerces-c++ 3.2.3
    35Monitor
  • CVE-2018-1311The Apache Xerces-C 3.0.0 to 3.2.3 XML parser contains a use-after-free error triggered during the scanning of external DTDs.
    35Monitor
  • CVE-2016-4463Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply n
    34Monitor
  • CVE-2015-0252internal/XMLReader.cpp in Apache Xerces-C before 3.1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault and crash) v
    32Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
debian:xerces-c3.2.1+debian-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:xerces-c3.1.4-lp150.2.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:xerces-c3.1.4-3.3.25 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15Package registry (OSV)
suse:Xerces-c2.8.0-29.17.5.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4Package 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.

EPSS, last 120 days+1% in 7 days

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 researchers

Finders, 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

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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

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Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

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References

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records