Critical Use-After-Free Vulnerability in libxml2: Denial of Service Risk
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2016-5131: Use-after-free vulnerability in libxml2 through 2.9.4, as used in Google Chrome before 52.0.2743.82, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to t... Affects libxml2 versions < 2.9.4-r1. Fixed in 2.9.4-r1. How to fix ↓
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Background
libxml2 is a widely-used XML parsing library that provides a range of functionalities for processing XML and HTML documents. It is known for its performance and compliance with standards, making it a popular choice in various applications, including web browsers and server-side software. However, versions of libxml2 prior to 2.9.4 are susceptible to a critical use-after-free vulnerability, which can lead to severe security implications.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2016-5131, arises from a use-after-free condition in libxml2, specifically affecting versions up to 2.9.4. This flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the library, potentially leading to a denial of service or other unspecified impacts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be triggered through the XPointer range-to function, which may be utilized in various applications that rely on libxml2 for XML processing.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.9.4-r1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade libxml2Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate upgrading is not feasible, consider implementing input validation to sanitize XML data before processing it with libxml2. This can help mitigate the risk of exploitation until the library is updated.
Conclusion
In summary, CVE-2016-5131 is a critical vulnerability in libxml2 that poses significant risks to applications relying on this library. Updating to the patched version 2.9.4-r1 is crucial to mitigate these risks. For those unable to update immediately, implementing input validation can serve as a temporary measure.
See every vulnerability recorded for libxml2 →
FAQ
CVE-2016-5131 is a use-after-free vulnerability in libxml2 that can lead to denial of service and other security risks.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
The CVSS score for CVE-2016-5131 is 8.8, indicating a critical level of severity.
If an immediate update is not possible, implement input validation to sanitize XML data as a temporary workaround.
You can visit Vulert's website at https://vulert.com for real-time monitoring and alerts on open-source vulnerabilities.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for libxml2.
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