The 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.
The 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. This flaw has not been addressed in the maintained version of the library and has no current mitigation other than to disable DTD processing. This can be accomplished via the DOM using a standard parser feature, or via SAX using the XERCES_DISABLE_DTD environment variable.
Noroxi analysis
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We use this product, ask for help- Published
- Dec 18, 2019
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 9.5% · 95th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-416
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Report tools
Action score
35
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 32 / 40 · 8.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 3 / 30 · 9.5%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| apache | xerces-c\+\+ | cpe:2.3:a:apache:xerces-c\+\+ |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop |
| redhat | enterprise linux eus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server |
| redhat | enterprise linux server aus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus |
| redhat | enterprise linux server tus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| oracle | goldengate | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:goldengate |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apache xerces-c++3.0.0 and later · before 3.2.5
- debian debian linux10.0
- debian debian linux9.0
- fedoraproject fedora38
- fedoraproject fedora39
- oracle goldengatebefore 21.4.0.0.0
- redhat enterprise linux desktop6.0
- redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
- redhat enterprise linux eus7.7
- redhat enterprise linux server6.0
- redhat enterprise linux server7.0
- redhat enterprise linux server aus7.7
- redhat enterprise linux server tus7.7
- redhat enterprise linux workstation6.0
- redhat enterprise linux workstation7.0
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
- 3.0.0 to 3.2.2affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:10 | xerces-c | before 3.2.2+debian-1+deb10u1 | 3.2.2+debian-1+deb10u1 |
| Debian:12 | xerces-c | before 3.2.3+debian-2 | 3.2.3+debian-2 |
| Debian:9 | xerces-c | before 3.1.4+debian-2+deb9u2 | 3.1.4+debian-2+deb9u2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | xerces-c | before 3.1.4-lp152.5.3.1 | 3.1.4-lp152.5.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | xerces-c | before 3.1.4-10.3.1 | 3.1.4-10.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | xerces-c | before 3.2.5-1.1 | 3.2.5-1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | xerces-c | before 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | xerces-c-debuginfo | before 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | xerces-c-devel | before 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | xerces-c-doc | before 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xerces-c | before 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 | 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xerces-c-debuginfo | before 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 | 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xerces-c-devel | before 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 | 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xerces-c-doc | before 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 | 0:3.1.1-10.el7_7 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | xerces-c | before 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS | xerces-c | before 3.1.4-3.6.1 | 3.1.4-3.6.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | xerces-c | before 3.1.4-10.3.1 | 3.1.4-10.3.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | xerces-c | before 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | xerces-c | before 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5 | xerces-c | before 3.1.1-13.6.1 | 3.1.1-13.6.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5 | xerces-c | before 3.1.1-13.12.1 | 3.1.1-13.12.1 |
Same product
apache: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-12627In Apache Xerces-C XML Parser library before 3.2.1, processing of external DTD paths can result in a null pointer dereference under certain 42Plan
- 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 h41Plan
- CVE-2024-23807Apache Xerces C++: Use-after-free on external DTD scan39Monitor
- CVE-2023-37536HCL BigFix Platform is vulnerable to an integer overflow in xerces-c++ 3.2.335Monitor
- 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 n34Monitor
- 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) v32Monitor
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:xerces-c | 3.2.3+debian-2 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xerces-c | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xerces-c-debuginfo | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xerces-c-devel | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xerces-c-doc | 0:3.0.1-21.el6_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2022-01-20 |
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.
- Published
- First PoC+763 d
- TodaySep 30, 2026+2478 d
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
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
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
- High
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-416 · Use After FreeCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Root cause
After a memory region is freed, another reference pointing to it is still used. By then, the same region may have been allocated for different data.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-416 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
free(dev->buf);/* ... another thread is still running ... */process(dev->buf);Fixed
lock(&dev->lock);free(dev->buf);dev->buf = NULL;unlock(&dev->lock);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.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/16/1
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0702
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0704
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r48ea463fde218b1e4cc1a1d05770a0cea34de0600b4355315a49226b%40%3Cc-dev.xerces.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r90ec105571622a7dc3a43b846c12732d2e563561dfb2f72941625f35%40%3Cc-users.xerces.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rabbcc0249de1dda70cda96fd9bcff78217be7a57d96e7dcc8cd96646%40%3Cc-users.xerces.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfeb8abe36bcca91eb603deef49fbbe46870918830a66328a780b8625%40%3Cc-users.xerces.apache.org%3E
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00025.html
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00027.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/7A6WWL4SWKAVYK6VK5YN7KZP4MZWC7IY/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AJYZUBGPVWJ7LEHRCMB5XVADQBNGURXD/
- marc.info/?l=xerces-c-users&m=157653840106914&w=2
- www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4814
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AJYZUBGPVWJ7LEHRCMB5XVADQBNGURXD/
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.