# CVE-2017-8872: Information disclosure in n/a

> Attackers can trigger a buffer over-read in libxml2, leading to information disclosure or denial of service.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 May 2017
- **Updated:** 17 Dec 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-8872, GHSA-8hvw-m45w-cr5x, SUSE-SU-2017:2115-1, SUSE-SU-2017:2141-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-8872

## What is CVE-2017-8872?

CVE-2017-8872 is a critical vulnerability in Xmlsoft Libxml2, published on 10 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The htmlParseTryOrFinish function in HTMLparser.c in libxml2 2.9.4 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read) or information disclosure.

Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-8872?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.7.6-0.77.3.2 |
| `libxml2-python` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.7.6-0.77.3.5 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.7.6-0.77.3.2 |
| `libxml2-python` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.7.6-0.77.3.5 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `python-libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | All versions | 2.7.6-0.77.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP2 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |
| `libxml2` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.9.4-46.3.2 |

Products: Xmlsoft Libxml2.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-8872?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2017-8872 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-8872 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Xmlsoft Libxml2

- [CVE-2017-16931](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-16931/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-49043](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49043/): Use after free in libxml2 (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-86140](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-86140/): Memory corruption in libxml2 (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2024-34459](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-34459/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2024-25062](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-25062/): Use after free in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-8872 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-8872 is a critical vulnerability in Xmlsoft Libxml2, published on 10 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-8872 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2017-8872/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8872/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-8872
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8872
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-8872

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8872/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.