CVE-2017-9233

HIGH

7.5

CVSS Score

Published: July 25, 2017 at 08:00 PM UTC

Updated: October 8, 2026 at 09:17 PM UTC

3 products affected across 3 vendorsLibexpatDebian LinuxPython

Using N/A by N/A?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect N/A - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available

Start Free Sign In

Severity

HIGH7.5

Exploit prediction

EPSS 9%

SSVC

No known exploit

Description

XML External Entity vulnerability in libexpat 2.2.0 and earlier (Expat XML Parser Library) allows attackers to put the parser in an infinite loop using a malformed external entity definition from an external DTD.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Libexpat · Libexpat Project

97%

v ≤ 2.2.0*

Debian Linux · Debiandrupal

95%

10.0 8.0 9.0

Python · Python

95%

2.7.0 ≤ v < 2.7.153.3.0 ≤ v < 3.3.73.4.0 ≤ v < 3.4.73.5.0 ≤ v < 3.5.43.6.0 ≤ v < 3.6.2*

Affected range stops below 2.7.15, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 3.3.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 3.4.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 3.5.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 3.6.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

References (13)

Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3898

Mailing Listx_refsource_MLISTVDB Entry

Source: [email protected]

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/06/17/7

VDB Entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99276

VDB Entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039427

x_refsource_CONFIRMRelease NotesThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://github.com/libexpat/libexpat/blob/master/expat/Changes

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitTechnical DescriptionVendor Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://libexpat.github.io/doc/cve-2017-9233/

Mailing Listx_refsource_MLIST

Source: [email protected]

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E

Mailing Listx_refsource_MLIST

Source: [email protected]

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.5HIGH[email protected]

Attack Vector: NETWORK
Complexity: LOW
Privileges: NONE
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality: NONE
Integrity: NONE
Availability: HIGH

Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED

CWE

CWE-611CWE-835

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Create account Sign in

Free plan, no card