Description
libxml2 is vulnerable to multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the xmlcatalog utility when running in --shell mode. The usershell() function processes user input using fixed-size stack buffers without proper bounds checking.
By supplying an overly long input line, an attacker can overflow internal buffers (command, arg, and argv) during input parsing. This results in memory corruption within the stack frame.
Successful exploitation may cause a crash or potentially allow arbitrary code execution in the context of the xmlcatalog process.
This issue has been fixed in the commit c2e233fc.
NOTE:
The maintainers of this project did not agree that this issue is a vulnerability and considered it a bug.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| xmlsoft | libxml2 | ≤ 2.15.3 | — |
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 | 2.15.4+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libxml2 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 10 | libxml2 +3 | 2.12.5-10.el10_2.3 | RHSA-2026:60394 |
| RHEL 9 | libxml2 +2 | 2.9.13-14.el9_8.4 | RHSA-2026:61247 |
| RHEL 8 | libxml2 +2 | 2.9.7-21.el8_10.7 | RHSA-2026:61248 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images 1 | libxml2 +4 | 2.15.3-0.1.1.hum1 | RHSA-2026:33840 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 10 | libxml2 +3 | 2.12.5-10.el10_2.3 | ALSA-2026:60394 |
| AlmaLinux 9 | libxml2 +2 | 2.9.13-14.el9_8.4 | ALSA-2026:61247 |
| AlmaLinux 8 | libxml2 +2 | 2.9.7-21.el8_10.7 | ALSA-2026:61248 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 10 | libxml2 | 2.12.5-10.el10_2.3 | RLSA-2026:98572, RLSA-2026:60394 |
| Rocky Linux 10 | libxml2-devel +2 | 2.12.5-15.el10_3.2 | RLSA-2026:98572 |
| Rocky Linux 9 | libxml2 | 2.9.13-14.el9_8.4 | RLSA-2026:98468, RLSA-2026:61247 |
| Rocky Linux 9 | libxml2-devel +1 | 2.9.13-18.el9_9.1 | RLSA-2026:98468 |
| Rocky Linux 8 | libxml2 | 2.9.7-21.el8_10.7 | RLSA-2026:61248 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | libxml2 +1 | 2.12.10-150700.4.14.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3097-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | libxml2 +1 | 2.10.3-150500.5.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | libxml2 +1 | 2.10.3-150500.5.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.14-150400.5.58.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3095-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.4-46.102.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:3111-1 |
Show 14 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 3 | libxml2-python | 2.12.10-150700.4.14.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3097-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | libxml2 +1 | 2.13.8-160000.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22636-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP6 | libxml2 +1 | 2.10.3-150500.5.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | libxml2 +1 | 2.10.3-150500.5.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.14-150400.5.58.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3095-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | libxml2 +1 | 2.13.8-160000.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22636-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | libxml2 +1 | 2.13.8-160000.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22596-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | libxml2 +1 | 2.11.6-slfo.1.1_9.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22894-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | libxml2 +1 | 2.11.6-13.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22806-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | libxml2 +1 | 2.10.3-150500.5.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.14-150400.5.58.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3095-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.14-150400.5.58.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3095-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | libxml2 +1 | 2.10.3-150500.5.41.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.14-150400.5.58.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3095-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libxml2 | 2.15.3-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:11258-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | libxml2 +1 | 2.13.8-160000.5.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21317-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | libxml2 +3 | 2.10.4-1.amzn2023.0.20 | ALAS2023-2026-1992 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | libxml2 +3 | 2.9.1-6.amzn2.5.26 | ALAS2-2026-3827 |
Advisories 27
- RLSA-2026:98572 Important: libxml2 security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Nov 13, 2026
- RLSA-2026:98468 Important: libxml2 security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Nov 13, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-2129 libxml2: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 11, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-3595 IBM QRadar SIEM: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 2, 2026
- ALSA-2026:61247 Moderate: libxml2 security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- ALSA-2026:60394 Moderate: libxml2 security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- ALSA-2026:61248 Moderate: libxml2 security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- RHSA-2026:61248 Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 15, 2026
- RHSA-2026:61247 Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 15, 2026
- RHSA-2026:60394 Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 15, 2026
- RHSA-2026:33840 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 15, 2026
- RLSA-2026:61247 Moderate: libxml2 security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Aug 31, 2026
- RLSA-2026:61248 Moderate: libxml2 security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Aug 31, 2026
- RLSA-2026:60394 Moderate: libxml2 security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Aug 28, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-3038 Meinberg LANTIME: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Aug 26, 2026
- ALAS2-2026-3827 Moderate: libxml2 security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Aug 4, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1992 Moderate: libxml2 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Aug 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22894-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22806-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3111-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 18, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3097-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 18, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3095-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 18, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3096-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 18, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22636-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 17, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22596-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 16, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:21317-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 15, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:11258-1 libxml2-16-2.15.3-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 13, 2026