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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · 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…

Published Aug 27, 2008 · catalog updated Jun 16, 2026 · Apple

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2008-3281. EPSS is 2.51%. Act only if a listed version of Apple is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Severity
Medium6.5
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
2.51%
Remediation
Version ranges on file
Affected products
cpe apple/iphone os · cpe apple/safari · cpe canonical/ubuntu linux · cpe debian/debian linux · cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop · cpe redhat/enterprise linux eus

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.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe apple/iphone os< 3.0
  • cpe apple/safari< 4.0
  • cpe canonical/ubuntu linux6.06
  • cpe canonical/ubuntu linux7.04
  • cpe canonical/ubuntu linux7.10
  • cpe canonical/ubuntu linux8.04
  • cpe debian/debian linux4.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop3.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop4.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop5.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux eus4.7
  • cpe xmlsoft/libxml2<= 2.6.32

How to fix CVE-2008-3281

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2008-3281. EPSS is 2.51%. Act only if a listed version of Apple is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with apple/iphone os < 3.0; canonical/ubuntu linux 6.06; canonical/ubuntu linux 7.04; canonical/ubuntu linux 7.10. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-776. EPSS 2.51%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Aug 27, 2008 · Apple Security Releases

    Detected

    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.

  2. Jun 16, 2026 · Apple Security Releases

    Updated

    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.

Sources

  • Apple Security ReleasesVendor advisoryCVE-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.

    nvd.nist.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2008-3281

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2008-3281

    30-day exploitation probability 2.51%

    first.org

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 23, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.