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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-74860: libxml2 with Python bindings enabled

Affects libxml2Source GCVE Database

0

Mentioned vulnerabilities

Authoritative record:CVE-2026-74860· High 8.5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.5 High · fixed in 2.9.1+dfsg1-3ubuntu4.13+esm12 : patch libxml2 soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 11:07 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
8.5High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 38% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 2.9.1+dfsg1-3ubuntu4.13+esm12, 2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.7+esm13, 2.9.4+dfsg1-6.1ubuntu1.9+esm8 +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 8 Sep 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlibxml2pkg:deb/ubuntu/libxml2?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <2.15.2+dfsg-0.1ubuntu0.2
Fixed in
  • 2.15.2+dfsg-0.1ubuntu0.2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlibxml2pkg:deb/ubuntu/libxml2?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <2.9.14+dfsg-1.3ubuntu3.9
Fixed in
  • 2.9.14+dfsg-1.3ubuntu3.9
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSlibxml2pkg:deb/ubuntu/libxml2?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threatsAffected
  • <2.9.13+dfsg-1ubuntu0.13
Fixed in
  • 2.9.13+dfsg-1ubuntu0.13
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTSlibxml2pkg:deb/ubuntu/libxml2?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalOther threatsAffected
  • <2.9.10+dfsg-5ubuntu0.20.04.10+esm5
Fixed in
  • 2.9.10+dfsg-5ubuntu0.20.04.10+esm5
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSlibxml2pkg:deb/ubuntu/libxml2?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicOther threatsAffected
  • <2.9.4+dfsg1-6.1ubuntu1.9+esm8
Fixed in
  • 2.9.4+dfsg1-6.1ubuntu1.9+esm8
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTSlibxml2pkg:deb/ubuntu/libxml2?arch=source&distro=esm-infra-legacy/xenialOther threatsAffected
  • <2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.7+esm13
Fixed in
  • 2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.7+esm13

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

Description

A flaw was found in libxml2 with Python bindings enabled. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by providing a specially crafted XML document containing a Document Type Definition (DTD) with enumerated attribute values. This triggers a double-free error in the SAX attributeDecl callback handler, where a string is freed twice. This flaw can lead to a denial of service (DoS) due to a reproducible crash in Python applications using the libxml2 SAX bindings.

References

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