Critical Security Update for perl-XML-Parser: Memory Corruption and Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
Summary
ALSA-2026:7681: Important: perl-XML-Parser security update. Affects perl-XML-Parser versions < 2.44-12.el8_10. Fixed in 2.44-12.el8_10. 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
perl-XML-Parser is a Perl module that provides functionality for parsing XML documents. It is built on the XML::Parser::Expat interface, which utilizes James Clark's expat library. This module allows developers to create new instances for parsing XML, with options to customize the parsing behavior. However, vulnerabilities in this module can lead to severe security issues, particularly when handling deeply nested XML files or crafted XML input.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerabilities identified in perl-XML-Parser include memory corruption and heap corruption, which can lead to denial of service. Specifically, CVE-2006-10002 indicates that crafted XML input can exploit the parser, causing heap corruption. CVE-2006-10003 highlights the risk of memory corruption when processing deeply nested XML files. These vulnerabilities can allow attackers to crash applications or execute arbitrary code, posing significant risks to systems relying on this module.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.44-12.el8_10
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo dnf update perl-XML-ParserTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing input validation to restrict the complexity of XML files being processed. This can help mitigate the risks associated with deeply nested XML structures.
Conclusion
The perl-XML-Parser module has critical vulnerabilities that can lead to serious security issues. It is crucial to update to the latest patched version to protect your applications from potential attacks. Implementing workarounds can provide temporary relief until the update is applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for perl-XML-Parser →
FAQ
perl-XML-Parser is a Perl module that allows developers to parse XML documents efficiently using the Expat library.
The main vulnerabilities include memory corruption and heap corruption, which can lead to denial of service and potential code execution.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
Implement input validation to limit the complexity of XML files processed by your application as a temporary workaround.
For more details, refer to the CVE pages listed in the references section of the vulnerability advisory.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for perl-XML-Parser.
Follow Vulert in Google
Get more Vulert vulnerability and dependency-security updates in Google Search and AI results.