Nokogiri Implements libxml2 version vulnerable to null pointer dereferencing

Description

A vulnerability found in libxml2 in versions before 2.9.11 shows that it did not propagate errors while parsing XML mixed content, causing a NULL dereference. If an untrusted XML document was parsed in recovery mode and post-validated, the flaw could be used to crash the application. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.

Basic information

Type
reviewed
Severity
medium
Advisory on GitHub
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Repository advisory
Source code
Browse source ↗
Published (advisory)
2022-05-24 19:02:26 UTC
Updated
2023-07-10 13:02:04 UTC
GitHub reviewed
2023-07-05 21:11:25 UTC
NVD published
2021-05-14

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.11% 29.58%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
5.9 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

Identifiers

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference

Affected packages (1)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem Package Vulnerable range First patched Vulnerable functions
rubygems nokogiri < 1.11.4 1.11.4

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence