# CVE-2011-1944: Integer overflow in n/a

> Integer overflow in libxml2 allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute arbitrary code via crafted XML files.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Sep 2011
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2011-1944, DSA-2255-1, GHSA-447f-hj4w-5xch

## What is CVE-2011-1944?

CVE-2011-1944 is a critical vulnerability in Xmlsoft Libxml2, published on 2 Sep 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-189

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-1944?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Xmlsoft Libxml, Xmlsoft Libxml2.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-1944?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2011-1944 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-1944 exists.

Public exploit code:

- libxmlInvalid 2.7.x - XPath Multiple Memory Corruption Vulnerabilities (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Xmlsoft Libxml2

- [CVE-2008-4226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4226/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-4225](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4225/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2009-2414](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2414/): Denial of service in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-1944 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-1944 is a critical vulnerability in Xmlsoft Libxml2, published on 2 Sep 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-1944 exists.

Affected product: Xmlsoft Libxml2. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1944/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1944/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-1944
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1944
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-1944

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1944/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.