Critical Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Expat Package
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2016-0718: Expat allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed input document, which triggers a buffer overflow. Affects expat versions < 2.1.1-r1. Fixed in 2.1.1-r1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Expat is an XML parsing library widely used in various applications for processing XML data. It is known for its efficiency and ease of use, making it a popular choice among developers. However, the library has a critical vulnerability that can be exploited through malformed input documents, leading to severe consequences.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2016-0718, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or potentially execute arbitrary code through a buffer overflow triggered by malformed input documents. This vulnerability poses a significant risk as it can compromise the integrity and availability of applications utilizing the Expat library.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.1.1-r1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade expatTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate updating is not feasible, consider implementing input validation to sanitize XML documents before processing them with Expat. This can help mitigate the risk of triggering the buffer overflow.
Conclusion
The Expat package has a critical vulnerability (CVE-2016-0718) that can lead to severe consequences if exploited. It is crucial to update to the patched version 2.1.1-r1 to mitigate risks. Additionally, implementing input validation can serve as a temporary workaround while ensuring the security of applications using this library.
See every vulnerability recorded for expat →
FAQ
CVE-2016-0718 is a vulnerability in the Expat XML parsing library that allows attackers to exploit buffer overflow issues through malformed XML documents.
The vulnerability can lead to denial of service attacks or arbitrary code execution, compromising the security and stability of applications using the Expat library.
You can use the Vulert platform to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
Yes, the patched version of the Expat package is 2.1.1-r1. Updating to this version will resolve the vulnerability.
The CVSS score for CVE-2016-0718 is 9.8, indicating a critical level of severity.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for expat.
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