CVE-2009-3560: Buffer Overflow

Published Nov 5, 2009
·
Updated

Expat is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the improper handling of XML data by the big2toUtf8 function within the libexpat library. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability using a specially-crafted XML document containing malformed UTF-8 sequences that trigger a buffer over-read to cause the application to crash.

Other sources

The big2toUtf8 function in lib/xmltok.c in libexpat in Expat 2.0.1 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via an XML document with crafted UTF-8 sequences that trigger a buffer over-read, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2625 and CVE-2009-3720.

Red Hat

The big2toUtf8 function in lib/xmltok.c in libexpat in Expat 2.0.1, as used in the XML-Twig module for Perl, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via an XML document with malformed UTF-8 sequences that trigger a buffer over-read, related to the doProlog function in lib/xmlparse.c, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2625 and CVE-2009-3720.

Affected Software

11 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/expat<0:1.95.7-4.el4_8.2
0:1.95.7-4.el4_8.2
redhat/expat<0:1.95.8-8.3.el5_4.2
0:1.95.8-8.3.el5_4.2
redhat/expat<2.1.0
2.1.0
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS<=9.7.2.8
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Web Access<=9.7.2.8
IBM IBM® Rational DOORS/DOORS Web Access<=9.6.1.x
James Clark Expat=2.0.1
Xmltwig Xml-twig For Perl
Libexpat Project Libexpat=2.0.1
Apache HTTP Server>=2.0.35<2.0.64
Apache HTTP Server>=2.2.0<2.2.17

Event History

Dec 2, 2009
CVE Published
via Red Hat·12:00 AM
Dec 4, 2009
CVE Published
via MITRE·09:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·09:00 PM
Description
Data Sourced
09:30 PM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2009-3560?

CVE-2009-3560 has a severity rating that indicates it can lead to denial of service due to improper XML data handling.

2

How do I fix CVE-2009-3560?

To fix CVE-2009-3560, update to the latest version of the affected software, ensuring it is above the specified vulnerable versions.

3

Which software is affected by CVE-2009-3560?

CVE-2009-3560 affects older versions of the Expat library, specific versions of IBM DOORS, and certain versions of Apache HTTP Server.

4

Can CVE-2009-3560 be exploited remotely?

Yes, CVE-2009-3560 can be exploited remotely using specially crafted XML documents.

5

What types of attacks can CVE-2009-3560 facilitate?

CVE-2009-3560 can facilitate denial of service attacks by triggering buffer overflows through malformed UTF-8 sequences.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203