Use After Free Affecting xerces-c package, versions <3.2.0+debian-2ubuntu0.1~esm2


Severity

Recommended
medium

Based on Ubuntu security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
1.48% (71st percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-UBUNTU1804-XERCESC-6346722
  • published17 Jan 2026
  • disclosed29 Feb 2024

Introduced: 29 Feb 2024

CVE-2024-23807  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-416  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Ubuntu:18.04 xerces-c to version 3.2.0+debian-2ubuntu0.1~esm2 or higher.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream xerces-c package and not the xerces-c package as distributed by Ubuntu. See How to fix? for Ubuntu:18.04 relevant fixed versions and status.

The Apache Xerces C++ XML parser on versions 3.0.0 before 3.2.5 contains a use-after-free error triggered during the scanning of external DTDs.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.5 which fixes the issue, or mitigate the issue by disabling DTD processing. This can be accomplished via the DOM using a standard parser feature, or via SAX using the XERCES_DISABLE_DTD environment variable.

This issue has been disclosed before as CVE-2018-1311, but unfortunately that advisory incorrectly stated the issue would be fixed in version 3.2.3 or 3.2.4.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1