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TI-2008-03143 Aliases CVE-2008-3281GHSA-x9c5-c5mj-wjjx

libxml2 2.6.32 and earlier does not properly detect recursion during entity expansion in…

Priority LOW 34CWE-776Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

libxml2 2.6.32 and earlier does not properly detect recursion during entity expansion in an attribute value, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory and CPU consumption) via a crafted XML document.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.02507 84th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 26

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 2.6.32Vulnerablexmlsoft
cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 4.0VulnerableApple
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.0.0 to before 3.0VulnerableApple
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*6.06VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.6.32 Vulnerable ·xmlsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
  • cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.0 to before 3.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.06 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 16 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*5.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.7VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*5.2VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*5.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*5.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:2.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.5.4VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:2.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.5.5VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:3.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0.2VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:3.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0.3VulnerableVMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.7 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.2 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:2.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.5.4 Vulnerable ·VMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:2.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.5.5 Vulnerable ·VMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:3.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.2 Vulnerable ·VMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:3.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.3 Vulnerable ·VMware

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2008:0836 Released 2008-08-21 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    libxml2 security update
    • Red Hat Desktop version 3 libxml2-2.5.10-11, libxml2-2.5.10-11.i386, libxml2-devel-2.5.10-11 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.2.4, libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.2.4.i386, libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.2.4.ia64 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent, libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent.i386, libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent.ia64 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 libxml2-2.5.10-11, libxml2-2.5.10-11.i386, libxml2-2.5.10-11.ia64 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 libxml2-2.6.16-12.3, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.i386, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.ia64 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.2.4, libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.2.4.i386, libxml2-python-2.6.26-2.1.2.4 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.2.4, libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.2.4, libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.2.4.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 libxml2-2.6.16-12.3, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.i386, libxml2-devel-2.6.16-12.3 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1 libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent, libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent.i386, libxml2-devel-2.4.19-9.ent.i386 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 libxml2-2.5.10-11, libxml2-2.5.10-11.i386, libxml2-2.5.10-11.ia64 +6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 libxml2-2.6.16-12.3, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.i386, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.ia64 +6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1 libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent, libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent.i386, libxml2-devel-2.4.19-9.ent.i386 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 libxml2-2.5.10-11, libxml2-2.5.10-11.i386, libxml2-2.5.10-11.ia64 +6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 libxml2-2.6.16-12.3, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.i386, libxml2-2.6.16-12.3.ia64 +6
    • Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent, libxml2-2.4.19-9.ent.ia64, libxml2-devel-2.4.19-9.ent.ia64 +1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Desktop version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server)Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0836
Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1Fixed RHSA-2008:0836

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2008-3281
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x9c5-c5mj-wjjx

References

Patch 1

Advisory 15

Other 12

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences