CVE-2008-3281

CVE-2008-3281 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-776.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
• CVSS v2: 4.3
• EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (83rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-776
• Affected product: Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop
• Published: 2008-08-27
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

libxml2 2.6.32 and earlier does not properly detect recursion during entity expansion in an attribute value, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory and CPU consumption) via a crafted XML document.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3281?

libxml2 2.6.32 and earlier does not properly detect recursion during entity expansion in an attribute value, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory and CPU consumption) via a crafted XML document.

How severe is CVE-2008-3281?

CVE-2008-3281 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2008-3281 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (83rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-3281?

CVE-2008-3281 primarily affects Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop. In total, 26 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-3281?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2008-3281 published?

CVE-2008-3281 was published on 2008-08-27 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Jun/msg00005.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/jun/msg00002.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-09/msg00004.html
• http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2008/000039.html
• http://mail.gnome.org/archives/xml/2008-August/msg00034.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31558
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31566
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31590
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31728
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31748
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31855
• http://secunia.com/advisories/31982
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32488
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32807
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32974
• http://secunia.com/advisories/35379
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-06.xml
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3613
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3639
• http://svn.gnome.org/viewvc/libxml2?view=revision&revision=3772
• http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0325
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1631
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:180
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:192
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497962/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30783
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020728
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-640-1
• http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2008-0017.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2419

Affected products (26)

• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:2.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:2.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:3.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:3.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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