Critical Vulnerability in Expat Package: XML_ParseBuffer Negative Length Issue
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2024-45490: An issue was discovered in libexpat before 2.6.3. xmlparse.c does not reject a negative length for XML_ParseBuffer. Affects expat versions < 2.1.0-4ubuntu1.4+esm9. Fixed in 2.1.0-4ubuntu1.4+esm9. How to fix ↓
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Background
Expat is an XML parsing library that is widely used in various applications for processing XML data. It provides a fast and efficient way to parse XML documents, making it a popular choice among developers. The library is known for its simplicity and performance, but it has recently been found to have a critical vulnerability that can lead to severe security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45490 affects Expat versions prior to 2.6.3. The issue arises in the xmlparse.c file, where the library fails to reject a negative length for the XML_ParseBuffer function. This oversight can lead to potential buffer overflows, allowing attackers to exploit the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, crash applications, or manipulate XML data in harmful ways. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.8, indicating a critical level of severity.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.1.0-4ubuntu1.4+esm9
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade expatTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can avoid using the XML_ParseBuffer function with negative lengths. However, this is not a permanent solution and should only be considered until the package is updated.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in the Expat package, identified as CVE-2024-45490, poses a critical risk due to its potential for buffer overflow attacks. Users are strongly advised to update to the latest version to secure their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for expat →
FAQ
CVE-2024-45490 is a critical vulnerability in the Expat XML parsing library that allows for potential buffer overflows due to the failure to reject negative lengths in the XML_ParseBuffer function.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By using the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
The vulnerability can lead to arbitrary code execution, application crashes, or manipulation of XML data, posing significant security risks to affected applications.
Yes, a patch is available. Users should update to Expat version 2.6.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
If an immediate update is not possible, avoid using the XML_ParseBuffer function with negative lengths as a temporary workaround until the package can be updated.
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