XML External Entity (XXE) Injection Affecting expat package, versions <0:2.2.10-1.el8_4


Severity

Recommended
high

Based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
20.09% (98th percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-RHEL8-EXPAT-14213416
  • published6 Dec 2025
  • disclosed19 Feb 2013

Introduced: 19 Feb 2013

CVE-2013-0340  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-611  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade RHEL:8 expat to version 0:2.2.10-1.el8_4 or higher.
This issue was patched in RHSA-2025:22785.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream expat package and not the expat package as distributed by RHEL. See How to fix? for RHEL:8 relevant fixed versions and status.

expat before version 2.4.0 does not properly handle entities expansion unless an application developer uses the XML_SetEntityDeclHandler function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption), send HTTP requests to intranet servers, or read arbitrary files via a crafted XML document, aka an XML External Entity (XXE) issue. NOTE: it could be argued that because expat already provides the ability to disable external entity expansion, the responsibility for resolving this issue lies with application developers; according to this argument, this entry should be REJECTed, and each affected application would need its own CVE.

References

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1