Note: This is an archival copy of Security Sun Alert 251406 as previously published on http://sunsolve.sun.com.
Latest version of this security advisory is available from http://support.oracle.com as Sun Alert 1020044.1.
Article ID : 1020044.1
Article Type : Sun Alerts (SURE)
Last reviewed : 2009-02-08
Audience : PUBLIC
Copyright Notice: Copyright © 2010, Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.

Security Vulnerabilities in the libxml2 Library Routines xmlBufferResize() and xmlSAX2Characters() May Lead to Arbitrary Code Execution or Denial of Service (DoS)



Category
Security

Release Phase
Resolved

Bug Id
6778313

Product
Solaris 9 Operating System
Solaris 10 Operating System
OpenSolaris

Date of Workaround Release
03-Feb-2009

Date of Resolved Release
09-Feb-2009

Security Vulnerabilities in the libxml2 Library Routines xmlBufferResize() and xmlSAX2Characters() May Lead to Arbitrary Code Execution or Denial of Service (DoS)

1. Impact

There are two security vulnerabilities in the libxml2 library (see libxml2(3)) bundled with Solaris 9 and Solaris 10 which may impact applications making use of this library. The precise impact will vary depending on the application.

The first issue is an integer overflow in the xmlBufferResize() libxml2 function (CVE-2008-4225) which may allow a local or remote unprivileged user who provides a specially crafted XML file to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) to the application which is using the libxml2 library (or potentially to the system as a whole as the application may consume excessive resources).

The second issue is an integer overflow in the xmlSAX2Characters() libxml2 function (CVE-2008-4226) which may allow a local or remote unprivileged user who provides a specially crafted XML file to cause an application crash or an arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the application.

Additional information regarding these issues is available in the following documents:


2. Contributing Factors

These issues can occur in the following releases:

SPARC Platform
  • Solaris 9 without patch 114014-22
  • Solaris 10 without patch 125731-04
  • OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_01 through snv_105
x86 Platform
  • Solaris 9 without patch 114015-22
  • Solaris 10 without patch 125732-04
  • OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_01 through snv_105
Note: Solaris 8 does not bundle libxml2 and thus no applications supplied with Solaris 8 use libxml2. However, libxml2 version 2.4.12 is included on the Solaris 8 OS Software Supplement CD for use with SunVTS 5.1. which is not affected by these issues.

3. Symptoms

If the first issue has been exploited, the application which makes use of the libxml2 library to process the crafted XML file may be unresponsive, possibly consuming all available CPU resources while looping. Commands such as prstat(1M) can be used to determine the utilization of system resources, for example:
$ prstat -s cpu
[...]
If the second issue has been exploited, the application which makes use of the libxml2 library to process the crafted XML file may no longer be available. Depending on the system configuration, core files may be created and application crashes may be recorded in system logs.

4. Workaround

There are no workarounds for these issues. Please see the Resolution section below.

5. Resolution

These issues are addressed in the following release:

SPARC Platform
  • Solaris 9 with patch 114014-22 or later
  • Solaris 10 with patch 125731-04 or later
  • OpenSolaris based upon build snv_106 or later
x86 Platform
  • Solaris 9 with patch 114015-22 or later
  • Solaris 10 with patch 125732-04 or later
  • OpenSolaris based upon build snv_106 or later
For more information on Security Sun Alerts, see 1009886.1.

This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS" basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these agreements.

Copyright 2000-2009 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Modification History
09-Feb-2009: Updated Contributing Factors and Resolution sections; now Resolved


References

125731-04
125732-04
114014-22
114015-22





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