CVE-2011-1944

CVE-2011-1944 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Xmlsoft Libxml2 with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 14% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-189.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 14% (96th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-189
• Affected product: Xmlsoft Libxml2
• Published: 2011-09-02
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Integer overflow in xpath.c in libxml2 2.6.x through 2.6.32 and 2.7.x through 2.7.8, and libxml 1.8.16 and earlier, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted XML file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow when adding a new namespace node, related to handling of XPath expressions.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-1944?

Integer overflow in xpath.c in libxml2 2.6.x through 2.6.32 and 2.7.x through 2.7.8, and libxml 1.8.16 and earlier, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted XML file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow when adding a new namespace node, related to handling of XPath expressions.

How severe is CVE-2011-1944?

CVE-2011-1944 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2011-1944 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 14% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2011-1944?

CVE-2011-1944 primarily affects Xmlsoft Libxml2. In total, 58 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2011-1944?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2011-1944 published?

CVE-2011-1944 was published on 2011-09-02 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=d7958b21e7f8c447a26bb2436f08402b2c308be4
• http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c03360041
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/May/msg00001.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/Sep/msg00003.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-July/062238.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2011-07/msg00035.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0217.html
• http://scarybeastsecurity.blogspot.com/2011/05/libxml-vulnerability-and-interesting.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/44711
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5281
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5503
• http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1153-1
• http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2255
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:131
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/05/31/8
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2015-1972971.html
• http://www.osvdb.org/73248
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1749.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/48056
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=709747

Affected products (58)

• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.6.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:2.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml:1.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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