This vulnerability allows a stack-based buffer overflow in libxml2, affecting versions before 2.12.10 and 2.13.x before 2.13.6. The root cause lies in the function xmlSnprintfElements within the valid.c source file. To exploit this vulnerability, DTD validation must occur for an untrusted document or DTD. This vulnerability is similar to CVE-2017-9047.
With a CVSS score of 7.8, this vulnerability is classified as high severity. It poses a significant risk to organizations utilizing affected products, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access or data corruption. The urgency for defenders is to prioritize patching immediately.
Currently, there are no known exploits or public proof of concept (PoC) for this vulnerability. However, the potential for future exploitation remains a concern, especially given the high-profile nature of the libxml2 library in various applications.
Organizations utilizing the affected components should take immediate action to remediate this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability description indicates a stack-based buffer overflow in libxml2, specifically in the xmlSnprintfElements function. This issue arises when DTD validation is performed on untrusted documents, resulting in potential memory corruption.
The CVSS score of 7.8 reflects a high severity level. It indicates that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with a high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality and integrity is rated as high (C:H, I:H), while the availability impact is none (A:N).
The affected products include the NetApp active_iq_unified_manager, manageability_software_development_kit, ontap, various firmware versions, and libxml2.
The vulnerability was published on February 18, 2025, and it has been modified since its initial disclosure.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-24928 is a stack-based buffer overflow in the xmlSnprintfElements function of libxml2. This function fails to properly handle DTD validation of untrusted documents, leading to potential memory corruption. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have access to the local environment where the vulnerable code is executed.
The attack complexity is rated as high, indicating that exploiting this vulnerability requires specific conditions that may not always be easily met. Additionally, no privileges are required for the attack, and user interaction is not necessary.
The impact on confidentiality and integrity is significant, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or the modification of critical data. However, the availability impact is none, meaning that the system's functioning would not be directly disrupted.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for data corruption and unauthorized access, especially if the library is utilized in environments handling sensitive or untrusted documents. The blast radius could extend to any application relying on the affected versions of libxml2, which is commonly integrated into various systems.
Given the high CVSS score of 7.8, organizations should assess their environments for the presence of vulnerable components and take immediate steps to remediate. The urgency for organizations is high, emphasizing the need for swift action to mitigate risk.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions include all libxml2 versions prior to 2.12.10 and 2.13.x before 2.13.6. In addition, components such as active_iq_unified_manager, manageability_software_development_kit, ontap, and various firmware versions are also impacted.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately by upgrading to the latest version of libxml2. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing workarounds to disable DTD validation for untrusted documents.
For further guidance on security best practices, organizations may refer to our penetration testing methodology.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for unusual behavior related to DTD validation. Any anomalies during the processing of XML documents should be flagged for review.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-24928 emphasizes the necessity for organizations to maintain up-to-date libraries and components, particularly those that handle untrusted input. It serves as a reminder that vulnerabilities can often stem from seemingly minor oversights in code validation.
For organizations looking to enhance their security posture, we recommend exploring our application security assessment services.
Additionally, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities like this can guide teams in developing more robust security protocols. For more insights, consider our offerings in red teaming as a service for proactive security assessments.
Lastly, the importance of continuous monitoring and assessment cannot be overstated. Organizations should remain vigilant and ready to respond to new vulnerabilities as they arise.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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