XML External Entity vulnerability in libexpat 2.2.0 and earlier (Expat XML Parser…
Priority MEDIUM 50CWE-611Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-611 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
XML External Entity vulnerability in libexpat 2.2.0 and earlier (Expat XML Parser Library) allows attackers to put the parser in an infinite loop using a malformed external entity definition from an external DTD.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.08739 95th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:libexpat_project:libexpat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.2.0 | Vulnerable | libexpat project |
| cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.7.0 to before 2.7.15; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.7; 3.4.0 to before 3.4.7; 3.5.0 to before 3.5.4; 3.6.0 to before 3.6.2 | Vulnerable | python-pillow |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:libexpat_project:libexpat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.2.0 Vulnerable ·libexpat project
- cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.7.0 to before 2.7.15; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.7; 3.4.0 to before 3.4.7; 3.5.0 to before 3.5.4; 3.6.0 to before 3.6.2 Vulnerable ·python-pillow
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization 3 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 2 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-9233
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6j8w-m4cc-r7hm
- 2026-10-08 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Advisory 7
Other 3
- [oss-security] 20170618 Expat 2.2.1 security fixes
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210628 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210629 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8
Sources
- CVE-2017-9233 · CVE Program
- CVE-2017-9233 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6j8w-m4cc-r7hm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2017-9233 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences