CVE-2026-57435
Description
A flaw was found in Nokogiri, an XML and HTML library for Ruby. This use-after-free vulnerability occurs when replacing the value of an XML attribute. If a Ruby wrapper already points to the attribute's child node, the underlying native child node can be freed while the wrapper remains accessible. A subsequent attempt to use the freed memory or a Ruby garbage collection operation could dereference an invalid pointer, leading to an invalid read and potentially causing a segmentation fault, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS).
Statement
The Nokogiri maintainers have evaluated this as low severity. Reaching it requires an unusual API-usage pattern that does not arise during normal use. The application must directly access an attribute's child node and then replace that same attribute's value via Attr#value= or #content=. Nokogiri 1.19.4 makes this pattern safe with no change to the public API.
Mitigation
Upgrade to Nokogiri 1.19.4 or later.
As a workaround, avoid accessing attribute child nodes directly via Attr#child or similar before mutating the same attribute's value.
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).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 3.7 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | N/A |
| Privileges Required | None | None | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | None | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | N/A |
| Confidentiality | None | None | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | N/A |
| Availability Impact | Low | High | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
Downgraded: unusual API-usage pattern required (AC:H); impact limited to minor availability disruption (A:L). Upstream maintainers rate this low severity.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
If the expired pointer is used in a read operation, an attacker might be able to control data read in by the application.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If the expired pointer references a memory location that is not accessible to the product, or points to a location that is "malformed" (such as NULL) or larger than expected by a read or write operation, then a crash may occur.
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
If the expired pointer is used in a function call, or points to unexpected data in a write operation, then code execution may be possible.
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