Overly broad permissions can turn one compromised account into a much larger security problem. Learn how to reduce unnecessary access, review privileges, and apply least privilege across modern Linux systems. Review Linux Privileges×

Alerts This Week
Warning Icon 1 461
Alerts This Week
Warning Icon 1 461

Red Hat: RHSA-2013-0581-01 Moderate: libxml2 CPU Consumption DoS

red hat
Calendar Grey February 28, 2013
Scroller Redhat
Address security vulnerability in libxml2 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux users with significant impact in this release.
Updated libxml2 packages that fix one security issue are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/articles/11258

Summary

The libxml2 library is a development toolbox providing the implementation of various XML standards.
A denial of service flaw was found in the way libxml2 performed string substitutions when entity values for entity references replacement was enabled. A remote attacker could provide a specially-crafted XML file that, when processed by an application linked against libxml2, would lead to excessive CPU consumption. (CVE-2013-0338)
All users of libxml2 are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which contain a backported patch to correct this issue. The desktop must be restarted (log out, then log back in) for this update to take effect.

References

https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-0338 https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#moderate

Package List

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client):
Source:
i386: libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-python-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm
x86_64: libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.x86_64.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.x86_64.rpm libxml2-python-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.x86_64.rpm
RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client):
Source:
i386: libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm
x86_64: libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.x86_64.rpm libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server):
Source:
i386: libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-python-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm
ia64: libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.ia64.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.i386.rpm libxml2-debuginfo-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.ia64.rpm libxml2-devel-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.ia64.rpm libxml2-python-2.6.26-2.1.21.el5_9.1.ia64.rpm


Read the Full Advisory


Advisory ID: RHSA-2013:0581-01
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Issue date: 2013-02-28

Topic

Updated libxml2 packages that fix one security issue are now available forRed Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6.The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having moderatesecurity impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score,which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from the CVE link inthe References section.

Relevant Releases Architectures

RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) - i386, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) - i386, ia64, ppc, s390x, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) - i386, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) - i386, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) - i386, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) - x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) - x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) - i386, ppc64, s390x, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) - i386, ppc64, s390x, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) - i386, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) - i386, x86_64

Bugs Fixed

912400 - CVE-2013-0338 libxml2: CPU consumption DoS when performing string substitutions during entities expansion

Get the latest News and Insights

Get the latest Linux and open source security news straight to your inbox.