Description
The xmlCurrentChar function in libxml2 before 2.6.31 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via XML containing invalid UTF-8 sequences.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | libxml2 | 2.6.30.dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxml2 | 2.6.30.dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxml2 | 2.6.30.dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 4.0 | libxml2 | 2.6.27.dfsg-2 | DSA-1461-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | libxml2 | 2.6.16-7sarge1 | DSA-1461-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | libxml2 +2 | 2.6.26-2.1.2.1 | RHSA-2008:0032 |
| RHEL 4 | libxml2 +2 | 2.6.16-10.1 | RHSA-2008:0032 |
| RHEL 3 | libxml2 +2 | 2.5.10-8 | RHSA-2008:0032 |
| RHEL 2 | libxml2 +2 | 2.4.19-7.ent | RHSA-2008:0032 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libxml2 | 2.9.12-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11016-1 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2008:0032 Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1461-1 libxml2 - denial of service Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11016-1 libxml2-2-2.9.12-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 28439 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-200801-20 vendor-advisory
- 28466 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-1033 vdb-entry
- 103201 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1461 vendor-advisory
- USN-569-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:002 vendor-advisory
- 20080329 VMSA-2008-0006 Updated libxml2 service console package mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:5216 vdb-entry signature
- 27248 vdb-entry
- 28444 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:010 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2008-0117 vdb-entry
- http://www.xmlsoft.org/news.html
- 28716 third-party-advisory
- 28740 third-party-advisory
- [xml] 20080111 Security flaw affecting all previous libxml2 releases mailing-list
- FEDORA-2008-0462 vendor-advisory
- 28475 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11594 vdb-entry signature
- 20080115 rPSA-2008-0017-1 libxml2 mailing-list
- APPLE-SA-2008-07-11 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-047.htm
- ADV-2008-0144 vdb-entry
- 28458 third-party-advisory
- 29591 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-2094 vdb-entry
- 28636 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-050.htm
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2121
- [Security-announce] 20080328 VMSA-2008-0006 Updated libxml2 service console package mailing-list
- RHSA-2008:0032 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2008-0477 vendor-advisory
- 28470 third-party-advisory
- 201514 vendor-advisory
- 28450 third-party-advisory
- 31074 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=425927
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=202628
- 28452 third-party-advisory
- 1019181 vdb-entry