libxml2: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 201202-09 / libxml2
Release Date	February 29, 2012
Latest Revision	February 29, 2012: 2
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
dev-libs/libxml2	< 2.7.8-r4	>= 2.7.8-r4	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #398361

Synopsis

A boundary error in libxml2 could result in execution of arbitrary code or Denial of Service.

2. Impact Information

Background

libxml2 is the XML C parser and toolkit developed for the Gnome project.

Description

The "xmlStringLenDecodeEntities()" function in parser.c contains a boundary error which could possibly cause a heap-based buffer overflow.

Impact

A remote attacker could entice a user to open a specially crafted XML file in an application linked against libxml2, possibly resulting in the remote execution of arbitrary code with the permissions of the user running the application, or Denial of Service.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All libxml2 users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

  # emerge --sync
  # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-libs/libxml2-2.7.8-r4"

Packages which depend on this library may need to be recompiled. Tools such as revdep-rebuild may assist in identifying some of these packages.

4. References

CVE-2011-3919

Page updated February 29, 2012

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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