CVE-2017-9048

Name: CVE-2017-9048
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2017-05-18T06:29:00.433+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.5/10EPSS 4.89%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2017-9048 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.5/10 on the CVSS scale. libxml2 20904-GITv2.9.4-16-g0741801 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow. The function xmlSnprintfElementContent in valid.c is supposed to recursively dump the element content definition into a char buffer 'buf' of size 'size'. EPSS estimates a 4.89% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

libxml2 20904-GITv2.9.4-16-g0741801 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow. The function xmlSnprintfElementContent in valid.c is supposed to recursively dump the element content definition into a char buffer 'buf' of size 'size'. At the end of the routine, the function may strcat two more characters without checking whether the current strlen(buf) + 2 < size. This vulnerability causes programs that use libxml2, such as PHP, to crash.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

4.89%

90.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Xmlsoft	Libxml2	2.9.4

References

http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3952
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/05/15/1Exploit, Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98556Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-01
http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3952
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/05/15/1Exploit, Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98556Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-01

Timeline

Published: May 18, 2017
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-9048?

How severe is CVE-2017-9048?

CVE-2017-9048 has a CVSS score of 7.5/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 4.89% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-9048?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2017-9048?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST