CVE-2025-24928 is a high-severity stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the widely used XML parsing library libxml2, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.12.10 and 2.13.x versions before 2.13.6. The vulnerability resides in the function xmlSnprintfElements within the valid.c source file. This function is involved in DTD (Document Type Definition) validation, a process that checks the structure and validity of XML documents against their DTDs. The flaw can be triggered when libxml2 processes an untrusted XML document or an untrusted DTD that requires validation. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to overflow a stack buffer, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The vulnerability is similar in nature to CVE-2017-9047, which also involved stack-based buffer overflow in libxml2 during DTD validation. According to the CVSS 3.1 scoring, this vulnerability has a score of 7.8, indicating high severity. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N) shows that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), and the impact on confidentiality and integrity is high (C:H/I:H), while availability is not affected (A:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches are linked in the provided data, but upgrading to libxml2 versions 2.12.10 or 2.13.6 and later is expected to mitigate the issue. This vulnerability is critical for applications that parse XML documents with DTD validation enabled, especially when processing untrusted input, as it could allow local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges through crafted XML data.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24928 can be significant, particularly for those relying on libxml2 for XML processing in local applications, middleware, or backend services. Since the vulnerability requires local access and high attack complexity, remote exploitation is less likely unless combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations that allow local code execution or file manipulation. However, many enterprise applications, including document management systems, configuration parsers, and security tools, use libxml2 extensively. A successful exploit could lead to unauthorized disclosure or modification of sensitive data (confidentiality and integrity impacts), potentially compromising critical business processes. The lack of impact on availability reduces the risk of denial-of-service conditions but does not diminish the threat of stealthy data breaches or privilege escalation. European organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which often handle sensitive XML data and enforce strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR), could face compliance risks and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, organizations with complex supply chains or legacy systems may have difficulty quickly identifying and patching affected libxml2 versions, increasing exposure time.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24928, European organizations should: 1) Identify all instances of libxml2 usage across their environments, including embedded systems, middleware, and application dependencies. 2) Upgrade libxml2 to version 2.12.10, 2.13.6, or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed. 3) If immediate upgrading is not feasible, consider disabling DTD validation or restricting processing of untrusted XML documents to reduce attack surface. 4) Implement strict local access controls and monitoring to prevent unauthorized local code execution or file manipulation that could facilitate exploitation. 5) Conduct code audits and penetration testing focusing on XML parsing components to detect potential exploitation paths. 6) Employ application whitelisting and runtime protection mechanisms to detect and block abnormal behavior resulting from buffer overflow exploitation. 7) Maintain an inventory of software dependencies and ensure timely patch management aligned with vulnerability disclosures. 8) Educate developers and system administrators about the risks of processing untrusted XML data with DTD validation enabled and encourage secure coding practices.