# CVE-2021-42260: Denial of service in n/a

> Attackers can cause a denial of service in applications using TinyXML by sending crafted XML messages that trigger an infinite loop.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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:** 11 Oct 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-42260, DLA-2988-1, DLA-3130-1, GHSA-x43j-m68c-2qxf, MGASA-2021-0514, OESA-2022-1521, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-42260, USN-6542-1, openSUSE-SU-2021:1474-1, openSUSE-SU-2021:3639-1

## What is CVE-2021-42260?

CVE-2021-42260 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 11 Oct 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

TinyXML through 2.6.2 has an infinite loop in TiXmlParsingData::Stamp in tinyxmlparser.cpp via the TIXML_UTF_LEAD_0 case. It can be triggered by a crafted XML message and leads to a denial of service.

Weakness: CWE-835 (Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-42260?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tinyxml` | openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | All versions | 2.6.2-lp152.4.3.1 |
| `tinyxml` | openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | All versions | 2.6.2-3.3.1 |

Products: Debian Debian Linux, Tinyxml Project Tinyxml.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-42260?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-42260 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42260 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- TinyXML 2.6.2 with fixes for CVE-2021-42260 and CVE-2023-34194 (github_poc): https://github.com/vm2mv/tinyxml

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-42260 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-42260 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 11 Oct 2021. 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-2021-42260 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2021-42260/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42260/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-42260
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42260
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42260

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42260/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.