libxml2 up to 2.9.8 xpath.c xmlXPathCompOpEval null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in libxml2 up to 2.9.8. Affected by this issue is the function xmlXPathCompOpEval of the file xpath.c. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2018-14404. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in libxml2 up to 2.9.8 (Document Processing Software). Affected by this vulnerability is the function xmlXPathCompOpEval of the file xpath.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the xpath.c:xmlXPathCompOpEval() function of libxml2 through 2.9.8 when parsing an invalid XPath expression in the XPATH_OP_AND or XPATH_OP_OR case. Applications processing untrusted XSL format inputs with the use of the libxml2 library may be vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to a crash of the application.

The bug was discovered 07/19/2018. The weakness was shared 07/19/2018 (Website). The advisory is shared at bugs.debian.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2018-14404 since 07/19/2018. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 111621 (Fedora 27 : libxml2 (2018-e198cf4a64)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Fedora Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 277488 (Fedora Security Update for libxml2 (FEDORA-2018-3b782350ff)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (111621), EUVD (EUVD-2019-0178) and SecurityFocus (BID 94347†). The entries VDB-93619 and VDB-115676 are related to this item. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 111621
Nessus Name: Fedora 27 : libxml2 (2018-e198cf4a64)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

11/15/2016 🔍
07/19/2018 +610 days 🔍
07/19/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/19/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/19/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/19/2018 +0 days 🔍
08/09/2018 +21 days 🔍
08/10/2018 +1 days 🔍
12/04/2025 +2673 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: FEDORA-2018-e198cf4a64
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-14404 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-14404
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-121969
EUVD: 🔍
SecurityFocus: 94347 - libxml2 CVE-2016-9318 XML External Entity Injection Vulnerability

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/19/2018 19:33
Updated: 12/04/2025 19:40
Changes: 07/19/2018 19:33 (73), 03/08/2020 17:04 (6), 04/18/2023 16:37 (4), 04/18/2023 16:46 (1), 12/03/2025 22:28 (16), 12/04/2025 19:40 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:0F6:103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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