Description
libxml2 before 2.8.0 computes hash values without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via crafted XML data.
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 | 2.7.8.dfsg-8 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxml2 | 2.7.8.dfsg-8 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxml2 | 2.7.8.dfsg-8 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | libxml2 | 2.7.8.dfsg-2+squeeze3 | DSA-2417-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | libxml2 +3 | 2.7.6-4.el6_2.4 | RHSA-2012:0324 |
| RHEL 6 | mingw32-libxml2 +1 | 2.7.6-6.el6_3 | RHSA-2013:0217 |
| RHEL 5 | libxml2 +2 | 2.6.26-2.1.15.el5_8.2 | RHSA-2012:0324 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2013:0217 Red Hat Security Advisory: mingw32-libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:0324 Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2417-1 libxml2 - denial of service Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1614 Tenable Security Nessus Network Monitor: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 25, 2023
References
- APPLE-SA-2013-10-22-8 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2013:1627 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2012:0324 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120222 libxml2: hash table collisions CPU usage DoS mailing-list
- RHSA-2013:0217 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6001
- http://xmlsoft.org/news.html
- 1026723 vdb-entry
- 54886 third-party-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpuapr2013-1899555.html
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5934
- DSA-2417 vendor-advisory
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=660846
- https://blogs.oracle.com/sunsecurity/entry/cve_2012_0841_denial_of
- 55568 third-party-advisory
- 52107 vdb-entry
- MDVSA-2013:150 vendor-advisory
- http://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=8973d58b7498fa5100a876815476b81fd1a2412a
- http://www.xerox.com/download/security/security-bulletin/16287-4d6b7b0c81f7b/cert_XRX13-003_v1.0.pdf
- APPLE-SA-2013-09-18-2 vendor-advisory