CVE-2017-5130 in HTTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
An integer overflow in xmlmemory.c in libxml2 before 2.9.5, as used in Google Chrome prior to 62.0.3202.62 and other products, allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted XML file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5130 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the libxml2 library's memory management system, specifically in the xmlmemory.c component. This issue affects versions prior to 2.9.5 and has significant implications for software systems that rely on libxml2 for XML processing, including Google Chrome versions before 62.0.3202.62. The flaw stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic during memory allocation operations, creating a condition where an attacker can manipulate input data to cause unexpected behavior in the memory management subsystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted XML file is processed by an affected system. The integer overflow manifests during memory allocation calculations where the product of two integer values exceeds the maximum representable value for the data type, causing the result to wrap around to a much smaller value. This overflow condition leads to insufficient memory allocation for the intended operation, creating heap corruption that can be leveraged by remote attackers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow or wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software security practices. When the system attempts to allocate memory based on the corrupted integer value, it either allocates insufficient memory for the actual data requirements or allocates memory at incorrect offsets, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to systems that process untrusted XML content, which is common in web applications, web services, and document processing environments. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability through web-based attacks without requiring local access to the target system. The impact extends beyond just Google Chrome to any application or service that utilizes libxml2 for XML parsing, including web servers, content management systems, email clients, and various enterprise applications. The vulnerability can be exploited through multiple attack vectors, including web pages, email attachments, and file processing operations that involve XML data. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through client-side exploitation.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5130 primarily focus on updating the affected libxml2 library to version 2.9.5 or later, which includes proper integer overflow checks and bounds validation in the memory allocation routines. System administrators should prioritize patching affected applications that rely on libxml2, particularly web browsers, web servers, and any XML processing software. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the attack surface by limiting the ability of attackers to craft malicious XML content that could trigger the vulnerability. Network-based mitigations such as XML filtering and content inspection can provide additional protection layers, though these should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper software supply chain management, as it demonstrates how flaws in widely-used libraries can affect numerous applications across different platforms and vendors.