Description
internal/XMLReader.cpp in Apache Xerces-C before 3.1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault and crash) 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 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-5.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-5.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-5.1 | — |
| Debian 7 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-3+deb7u1 | DSA-3199-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-1+deb6u1 | DLA-181-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.1.1-5.1~build0.14.04.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | xerces-c +2 | 3.1.1-7.ael7b_1 | RHSA-2015:1193 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-4.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0597-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | xerces-c +2 | 3.1.1-7.el7_1 | ELSA-2015-1193 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Apache Xerces-C XML Parser < 3.1.2 - Denial of Service (PoC) EDB-36906 · dos · May 4, 2015
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2015:1193 Red Hat Security Advisory: xerces-c security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DLA-181-1 xerces-c - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3199-1 xerces-c - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:0597-1 Security update for Xerces-C SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2015-1193 Moderate: xerces-c security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jun 29, 2015
References
- DSA-3199 vendor-advisory
- 73252 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2015-4226 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-4228 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-4321 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:0966 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-4251 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:1193 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-4272 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-4285 vendor-advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/131756/Apache-Xerces-C-XML-Parser-Denial-Of-Service.html
- http://xerces.apache.org/xerces-c/secadv/CVE-2015-0252.txt
- 1032254 vdb-entry
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html
- 36906 exploit
- https://shibboleth.net/community/advisories/secadv_20150319.txt