CVE-2018-9251
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote...
CVE-2018-9251 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Xmlsoft Libxml2, published April 4, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.36%, the 83rd percentile. Fixed in libxml2 2.9.8-r1.
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
5.3
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
- Record
CVE-2018-9251- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 2.6 Low
AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-835
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
- Record
CVE-2018-9251- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-20845 No score
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
- Record
EUVD-2018-20845- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-qvh5-3xv2-rf6p
5.3
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote...
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
- Record
GHSA-qvh5-3xv2-rf6p- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-835
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2018-9251
5.3
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
- Record
ALPINE-CVE-2018-9251- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBELL-CVE-2018-9251
5.3
CVE-2018-9251 does not affect BellSoft software
- Record
BELL-CVE-2018-9251- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 6 moreShow less
OSV
5.3
The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c in libxml2 2.9.8, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8035.
- Record
CVE-2018-9251- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2020:1827
6.5
Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update
- Record
RHSA-2020:1827- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2019-0047 No score
Updated libxml2 packages fix security vulnerabilities
A flaw was found in libxml2 2.9.8. The xz_decomp function in xzlib.c, if --with-lzma is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint (CVE-2018-9251, CVE-2018-14567).
A null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the xpath.c:xmlXPathCompOpEval() function of libxml2 when parsing invalid XPath expression. Applications processing untrusted XSL format inputs with the use of libxml2 library may be vulnerable to denial of service attack due to crash of the application (CVE-2018-14404).
The libxml2 package has been updated to version 2.9.9 to fix these issues and other bugs.
The perl-XML-LibXML package has been rebuilt against the updated libxml2.
- Record
MGASA-2019-0047- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11016-1 No score
libxml2-2-2.9.12-1.2 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the libxml2-2-2.9.12-1.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11016-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:3080-1 No score
Security update for libxml2
This update for libxml2 fixes the following security issues:
- CVE-2018-9251: The xz_decomp function allowed remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint (bsc#1088279)
- CVE-2018-14567: Prevent denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint (bsc#1105166)
- CVE-2018-14404: Prevent NULL pointer dereference in the xmlXPathCompOpEval() function when parsing an invalid XPath expression in the XPATH_OP_AND or XPATH_OP_OR case leading to a denial of service attack (bsc#1102046)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2018:3080-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:3081-1 No score
Security update for libxml2
This update for libxml2 fixes the following security issues:
- CVE-2018-9251: The xz_decomp function allowed remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint (bsc#1088279).
- CVE-2018-14567: Prevent denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted XML file that triggers LZMA_MEMLIMIT_ERROR, as demonstrated by xmllint (bsc#1105166).
- CVE-2018-14404: Prevent NULL pointer dereference in the xmlXPathCompOpEval() function when parsing an invalid XPath expression in the XPATH_OP_AND or XPATH_OP_OR case leading to a denial of service attack (bsc#1102046).
- CVE-2017-18258: The xz_head function allowed remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a crafted LZMA file, because the decoder functionality did not restrict memory usage to what is required for a legitimate file (bsc#1088601).
- Record
SUSE-SU-2018:3081-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libxml2Alpine:v3.10 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.11 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.12 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.13 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.14 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.15 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.16 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.17 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.18 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.19 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
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| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libxml2Alpine:v3.20 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.21 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.22 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.23 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.24 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.5 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.6 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.7 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.8 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Alpine:v3.9 |
before 2.9.8-r1 | 2.9.8-r1 |
libxml2Mageia:6 |
before 2.9.9-1.mga6 | 2.9.9-1.mga6 |
perl-XML-LibXMLMageia:6 |
before 2.13.200-1.1.mga6 | 2.13.200-1.1.mga6 |
libxml2-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
libxml2-debugsourceRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
libxml2-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
python3-libxml2-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
libxml2Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
libxml2-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
libxml2-debugsourceRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
python3-libxml2Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
python3-libxml2-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos |
before 0:2.9.7-7.el8 | 0:2.9.7-7.el8 |
libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 |
before 2.9.7-3.3.1 | 2.9.7-3.3.1 |
python-libxml2-pythonSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 |
before 2.9.7-3.3.1 | 2.9.7-3.3.1 |
libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
python-libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
python-libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
python-libxml2SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 |
before 2.9.4-46.15.1 | 2.9.4-46.15.1 |
libxml2openSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 2.9.12-1.2 | 2.9.12-1.2 |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | aliases | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
References
bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=794914
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00035.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-9251
github.com/advisories/GHSA-qvh5-3xv2-rf6p
security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2018-9251
docs.bell-sw.com/security/cves/CVE-2018-9251
Show 41 moreShow less
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2019-0047.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=23410
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/G5AFZARX7BUSU24J2MJ4AHX5OE47UXQA
usn.ubuntu.com/3739-1
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:1827
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html/8.2_release_notes/index
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1565318
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1595985
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2020/rhsa-2020_1827.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-9251
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-9251
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14404
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14404
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14404
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2018/suse-su-20183080-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1088279
bugzilla.suse.com/1102046
bugzilla.suse.com/1105166
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14404
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14567
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-9251
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2018/suse-su-20183081-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1088601
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-18258
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2007-6284
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-4658
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-0663
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-5969
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9047
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9048
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9049
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-19956
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-20388
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-24977
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-7595
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3516
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3517
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3518
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3537
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3541