Description
The Apache Xerces-C 3.0.0 to 3.2.3 XML parser contains a use-after-free error triggered during the scanning of external DTDs. This flaw has not been addressed in the maintained version of the library and has no current mitigation other than to disable DTD processing. This can be accomplished via the DOM using a standard parser feature, or via SAX using the XERCES_DISABLE_DTD environment variable.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Apache Xerces-C | 3.0.0 to 3.2.2 | — |
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 | 3.2.3+debian-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | xerces-c | 3.2.3+debian-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | xerces-c | 3.2.3+debian-2 | — |
| Debian 10 | xerces-c | 3.2.2+debian-1+deb10u1 | DSA-4814-1 |
| Debian 9 | xerces-c | 3.1.4+debian-2+deb9u2 | DLA-2498-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.2.3+debian-3ubuntu0.1 | USN-6590-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.2.2+debian-1ubuntu0.1 | USN-6590-1, USN-6579-2 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.2.3+debian-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6579-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.2.0+debian-2ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-6590-1, USN-6579-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.1.3+debian-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-6590-1, USN-6579-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | xerces-c | 3.1.1-5.1+deb8u4ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6590-1, USN-6579-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | xerces-c +2 | 3.1.1-10.el7_7 | RHSA-2020:0704 |
| RHEL 6 | xerces-c +2 | 3.0.1-21.el6_10 | RHSA-2020:0702 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1, SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-10.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2958-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
Show 20 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-13.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0299-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2944-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1, SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | xerces-c | 3.1.1-13.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0299-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2944-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1, SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-150200.10.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1, SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | xerces-c | 3.2.5-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:13540-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | xerces-c | 3.2.3-150300.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-10.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:2958-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | xerces-c | 3.1.4-lp152.5.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:1231-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | xerces-c | 3.2.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | xerces-c | 3.2.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | xerces-c | 3.2.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | xerces-c | 3.2.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | xerces-c | 3.2.5-r0 | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | xerces-c | 3.2.5-r0 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | xerces-c +2 | 3.1.1-10.amzn2 | ALAS2-2020-1415 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | xerces-c +2 | 3.1.1-10.el7_7 | ELSA-2020-0704 |
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.
GitHub 1 repository
-
johnjamesmccann/xerces-3.2.3-DTD-hotfix ★ 0 · Jan 20, 2022
// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Portions Copyright 2021 Siemens // Modified on 15-Jul-2021 by Siemens and/or its affiliates to fix CVE-2018-1311: Apache Xerces-C use-after-free vulnerability scanning exte…
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 20
- USN-6590-1 xerces-c vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-6579-1 xerces-c vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2020:0704 Red Hat Security Advisory: xerces-c security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-6579-2 xerces-c vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-4814-1 xerces-c - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2498-1 xerces-c - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2920-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:1231-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:0320-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13540-1 libxerces-c-3_2-3.2.5-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:0299-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2958-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2020:0702 Red Hat Security Advisory: xerces-c security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2021:2944-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2021:2958-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2024:0300-1 Security update for xerces-c SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- WID-SEC-2023-3207 Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit den Rechten des Dienstes BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Mar 4, 2024
- WID-SEC-2023-1034 Oracle JD Edwards: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Apr 18, 2023
- ALAS2-2020-1415 Important: xerces-c security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Apr 23, 2020
- ELSA-2020-0704 Important: xerces-c security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 6, 2020
References
- [xerces-c-dev] 20200110 [xerces-c] 06/13: Add CVE-2018-1311 advisory and web site note. mailing-list
- RHSA-2020:0704 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2020:0702 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201217 [SECURITY] [DLA 2498-1] xerces-c security update mailing-list
- DSA-4814 vendor-advisory
- [xerces-c-users] 20210528 Security vulnerability - CVE-2018-1311 mailing-list
- [xerces-c-users] 20210528 RE: Security vulnerability - CVE-2018-1311 mailing-list
- [xerces-c-users] 20210528 Re: Security vulnerability - CVE-2018-1311 mailing-list
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
- https://marc.info/?l=xerces-c-users&m=157653840106914&w=2
- FEDORA-2023-52ba628e03 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2023-817ecc703f vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20231231 [SECURITY] [DLA 3704-1] xerces-c security update mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20240216 CVE-2024-23807: Apache Xerces C++: Use-after-free on external DTD scan mailing-list