Memory Corruption Vulnerability in libxml2: Denial of Service Risk
Summary
CVE-2025-49796: A vulnerability was found in libxml2. Affects libxml2 versions < 2.9.10+dfsg-6.7+deb11u8. Fixed in 2.9.10+dfsg-6.7+deb11u8. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
libxml2 is a widely used XML parsing library that provides a range of functionalities for processing XML documents. It is known for its speed and compliance with XML standards, making it a popular choice in various applications. However, libxml2 is susceptible to vulnerabilities that can lead to severe consequences, including memory corruption and denial of service.
Vulnerability Detail
A vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-49796 exists within libxml2, where processing certain sch:name elements from an input XML file can trigger memory corruption. This flaw allows attackers to craft malicious XML files that can cause libxml2 to crash, leading to denial of service or undefined behavior due to corrupted sensitive data in memory. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.1, indicating a critical severity level.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.9.10+dfsg-6.7+deb11u8
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade libxml2Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can avoid processing untrusted XML files or implement strict validation checks on the XML input to prevent the processing of potentially malicious sch:name elements.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-49796 is a critical vulnerability in libxml2 that can lead to severe consequences such as memory corruption and denial of service. It is crucial for users to update their libxml2 installations to the latest patched version to mitigate risks. Additionally, employing workarounds can help protect against potential exploitation until updates are applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for libxml2 →
FAQ
CVE-2025-49796 is a vulnerability in libxml2 that can lead to memory corruption and denial of service when processing certain XML elements.
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 vulnerability can lead to application crashes, denial of service, and potential exposure of sensitive data due to memory corruption.
Yes, updating to the latest version of libxml2 will patch the vulnerability. Use 'sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libxml2' to update.
The CVSS score for CVE-2025-49796 is 9.1, indicating a critical level of severity.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for libxml2.
