libxml2 up to 2.11.8/2.12.8/2.13.2 SAX Parser xml external entity reference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in libxml2 up to 2.11.8/2.12.8/2.13.2 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component SAX Parser. Such manipulation leads to xml external entity reference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-40896. No exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in libxml2 up to 2.11.8/2.12.8/2.13.2 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is an unknown code of the component SAX Parser. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a xml external entity reference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-611. The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In libxml2 2.11 before 2.11.9, 2.12 before 2.12.9, and 2.13 before 2.13.3, the SAX parser can produce events for external entities even if custom SAX handlers try to override entity content (by setting "checked"). This makes classic XXE attacks possible.

The advisory is available at gitlab.gnome.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2024-40896 since 07/12/2024. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 213402 (Fedora 41 : libxml2 (2024-867a14de12)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 2.11.9, 2.12.9 or 2.13.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1a8932303969907f6572b1b6aac4081c56adb5c6 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at gitlab.gnome.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (213402), EUVD (EUVD-2024-38822) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0813). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• Oracle MySQL
• Debian Linux
• IBM DB2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• MariaDB MariaDB

Productinfo

Type

• Document Processing Software

Name

• libxml2

Version

• 2.11.0
• 2.11.1
• 2.11.2
• 2.11.3
• 2.11.4
• 2.11.5
• 2.11.6
• 2.11.7
• 2.11.8
• 2.12.0
• 2.12.1
• 2.12.2
• 2.12.3
• 2.12.4
• 2.12.5
• 2.12.6
• 2.12.7
• 2.12.8
• 2.13.0
• 2.13.1
• 2.13.2

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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