USN-7852-2: libxml2 vulnerability

Publication date

27 November 2025

Overview

libxml2 could be made to crash or run programs if it opened a specially crafted file.


Packages

Details

USN-7582-1 fixed a vulnerability in libxml2. This update provides the
corresponding fix for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that libxslt, used by libxml2, incorrectly handled
certain attributes. An attacker could use this issue to cause a crash,
resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This
update adds a fix to libxml2 to mitigate the libxslt vulnerability.

USN-7582-1 fixed a vulnerability in libxml2. This update provides the
corresponding fix for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that libxslt, used by libxml2, incorrectly handled
certain attributes. An attacker could use this issue to cause a crash,
resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This
update adds a fix to libxml2 to mitigate the libxslt vulnerability.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
20.04 LTS focal libxml2 –  2.9.10+dfsg-5ubuntu0.20.04.10+esm3  
python-libxml2 –  2.9.10+dfsg-5ubuntu0.20.04.10+esm3  
python3-libxml2 –  2.9.10+dfsg-5ubuntu0.20.04.10+esm3  
18.04 LTS bionic libxml2 –  2.9.4+dfsg1-6.1ubuntu1.9+esm6  
python-libxml2 –  2.9.4+dfsg1-6.1ubuntu1.9+esm6  
python3-libxml2 –  2.9.4+dfsg1-6.1ubuntu1.9+esm6  
16.04 LTS xenial libxml2 –  2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.7+esm11  
python-libxml2 –  2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.7+esm11  

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.


Have additional questions?

Talk to a member of the team ›