Memory Corruption Vulnerability in libxml2: Denial of Service Risk
Summary
DEBIAN-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 ↓
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Background
libxml2 is a widely-used XML parsing library that provides a variety of functionalities for processing XML documents. It is known for its performance and compliance with XML standards, making it a critical component in many applications. However, it is susceptible to vulnerabilities that can be exploited, leading to potential security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
A vulnerability was discovered in libxml2 that affects the processing of certain sch:name elements in XML files. This flaw can lead to memory corruption, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML input that may cause libxml2 to crash. The implications of this vulnerability include denial of service and the risk of undefined behavior due to sensitive data being corrupted in memory.
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, avoid processing untrusted XML input that may contain sch:name elements until the package is updated to a secure version.
Conclusion
The memory corruption vulnerability in libxml2 poses significant risks, including denial of service and potential data corruption. It is crucial for users to update their libxml2 packages to the latest patched versions to mitigate these risks. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and identifying vulnerabilities in your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for libxml2 →
FAQ
The vulnerability involves memory corruption triggered by processing specific XML elements, which can lead to application crashes.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your manifest file. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in denial of service and potential exposure of sensitive data due to memory corruption.
Yes, there are patched versions of libxml2 available for various Debian releases. It is recommended to update to the latest version.
If an immediate update is not possible, avoid processing untrusted XML input that may exploit this vulnerability until a patch can be applied.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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