CVE-2026-56404
Description
A flaw was found in libexpat. This vulnerability, an integer overflow in the addBinding function, could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code. By exploiting this, an attacker could gain control over the affected system, compromising its confidentiality and integrity.
Statement
This Moderate impact flaw in libexpat, an XML parsing library, could lead to arbitrary code execution through an integer overflow in the addBinding function. Exploitation requires local access and high attack complexity, which limits its immediate risk in standard Red Hat deployments. The vulnerability primarily affects applications that process untrusted XML data.
Mitigation
Do not process untrusted or unvalidated XML with libexpat-based applications. Enforce strict maximum size limits on XML input and namespace URI lengths before parsing
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | Local |
| Attack Complexity | High | High | High |
| Privileges Required | None | None | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | High | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | High | High |
| Availability Impact | Low | Low | Low |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory); DoS: Instability
This weakness can generally lead to undefined behavior and therefore crashes. When the calculated result is used for resource allocation, this weakness can cause too many (or too few) resources to be allocated, possibly enabling crashes if the product requests more resources than can be provided.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory
If the value in question is important to data (as opposed to flow), simple data corruption has occurred. Also, if the overflow/wraparound results in other conditions such as buffer overflows, further memory corruption may occur.
Confidentiality,Availability,Access Control
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Bypass Protection Mechanism
This weakness can sometimes trigger buffer overflows, which can be used to execute arbitrary code. This is usually outside the scope of the product's implicit security policy.
Availability,Other
Technical Impact: Alter Execution Logic; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
If the overflow/wraparound occurs in a loop index variable, this could cause the loop to terminate at the wrong time - too early, too late, or not at all (i.e., infinite loops). With too many iterations, some loops could consume too many resources such as memory, file handles, etc., possibly leading to a crash or other DoS.
Access Control
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism
If integer values are used in security-critical decisions, such as calculating quotas or allocation limits, integer overflows can be used to cause an incorrect security decision.
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