An issue was discovered in libexpat before 2.6.3. The vulnerability arises from the failure of xmlparse.c to reject a negative length for XML_ParseBuffer. This oversight can lead to denial of service, impacting application availability.
With a CVSS score of 7.5, classified as high severity, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of libexpat. Immediate attention is warranted to mitigate potential impacts.
Risk to organizations includes service disruptions and potential exploitation in networked environments. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
The vulnerability is currently unexploited in the wild, but the existence of the flaw necessitates prompt remediation to prevent future risks.
Organizations using libexpat should assess their environments for affected versions and apply necessary updates to ensure system integrity and availability.
Vulnerability Details
An issue was discovered in libexpat before 2.6.3. xmlparse.c does not reject a negative length for XML_ParseBuffer.
This vulnerability falls under CWE-611 (XML Parsing Issue) and CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound).
The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a high severity level, with an attack vector of NETWORK, low attack complexity, no required privileges, and no user interaction needed for exploitation.
The vulnerability impacts all versions of libexpat prior to the vendor patch.
The vulnerability was published on August 30, 2024, and is currently listed as modified in the CVE database.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of input data within xmlparse.c, where a negative length is not adequately checked before processing. This flaw can lead to a denial of service, as it may cause the application to enter an undefined state or crash.
The attack vector is network-based, allowing attackers to exploit this vulnerability remotely. The attack complexity is low, meaning that an attacker can easily craft input data to trigger the flaw.
Exploitation does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it accessible for potential attackers. The impact on availability is high, as it can lead to application downtime.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using affected versions of libexpat should be aware of the real-world risks associated with this vulnerability. The potential for denial of service can severely impact business operations, especially for applications reliant on XML parsing.
The blast radius of this vulnerability is considerable, as it can affect any service that relies on libexpat for XML parsing. Organizations should evaluate their exposure and the criticality of services that utilize this library.
Given the CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to prevent potential exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should upgrade to version 2.6.3 or later of libexpat to eliminate this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing configuration hardening and network controls to mitigate risks.
For more information on effective security practices, organizations can refer to the penetration testing services available.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual parsing errors and system behavior anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-45490 lies in the potential impact on applications relying on libexpat. This vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation in XML parsing libraries to prevent future incidents.
Security teams should take this opportunity to review their use of libraries and implement a proactive approach to vulnerability management.
For further insights on securing applications, organizations can explore our vulnerability management program design.
Additionally, our penetration testing methodology can further enhance your security posture.
Ultimately, staying informed on vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-45490 and actively managing risk is essential for maintaining application security.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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