IBM SECURITY ADVISORY First Issued: Wed Feb 18 08:44:14 CST 2026 The most recent version of this document is available here: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/libxml2_advisory10.asc Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in libxml2 (CVE-2025-8732) affects AIX =============================================================================== SUMMARY: Vulnerability in libxml2 could cause an uncontrolled recursion (CVE-2025-8732). AIX uses libxml2 as part of its XML parsing functions. =============================================================================== VULNERABILITY DETAILS: CVEID: CVE-2025-8732 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-8732 DESCRIPTION: A vulnerability was found in libxml2 up to 2.14.5. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function xmlParseSGMLCatalog of the component xmlcatalog. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled recursion. Attacking locally is a requirement. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. The code maintainer explains, that "[t]he issue can only be triggered with untrusted SGML catalogs and it makes absolutely no sense to use untrusted catalogs. I also doubt that anyone is still using SGML catalogs at all." CVSS Base Score: 3.3 CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L) AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS: AIX 7.2, 7.3 VIOS 3.1, 4.1 The following fileset levels are vulnerable: key_fileset = aix Fileset Lower Level Upper Level KEY --------------------------------------------------------- bos.rte.control 7.2.5.0 7.2.5.206 key_w_fs bos.rte.control 7.3.2.0 7.3.2.3 key_w_fs bos.rte.control 7.3.3.0 7.3.3.1 key_w_fs bos.rte.control 7.3.4.0 7.3.4.0 key_w_fs To find out whether the affected filesets are installed on your systems, refer to the lslpp command found in AIX user's guide. Example: lslpp -L | grep -i bos.rte.control REMEDIATION: A. APARS IBM has assigned the following APARs to this problem: AIX Level APAR Availability SP KEY ----------------------------------------------------- 7.2.5 IJ57276 ** SP12 key_w_apar 7.3.2 IJ57291 ** N/A key_w_apar 7.3.3 IJ57292 ** SP03 key_w_apar 7.3.4 IJ57282 ** SP01 key_w_apar VIOS Level APAR Availability SP KEY ----------------------------------------------------- 4.1.0 IJ57291 ** N/A key_w_apar 4.1.1 IJ57292 ** 4.1.1.30 key_w_apar 4.1.2 IJ57282 ** 4.1.2.10 key_w_apar Subscribe to the APARs here: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/apar/[apar number] By subscribing, you will receive periodic email alerting you to the status of the APAR, and a link to download the fix once it becomes available. B. FIXES IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now. AIX and VIOS fixes are available. The fixes are cumulative and address previously issued AIX/VIOS libxml2 security bulletins with respect to SP and TL. The AIX and VIOS fixes can be downloaded via https from: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/libxml2_fix10.tar The link above is to a tar file containing this signed advisory, fix packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each package. The fixes below include prerequisite checking. This will enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX Technology Levels. AIX Level Interim Fix (*.Z) KEY ---------------------------------------------- 7.2.5.9 IJ57276sBa.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.2.5.10 IJ57276sBa.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.2.5.11 IJ57276sBa.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.2.2 IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.2.3 IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.2.4 IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.3.0 IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.3.1 IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.3.2 IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 7.3.4.0 IJ57282s0a.260206.epkg.Z key_w_fix Please note that the above table refers to AIX TL/SP level as opposed to fileset level, i.e., 7.3.2.3 is AIX 7300-02-03. Please reference the Affected Products and Version section above for help with checking installed fileset levels. VIOS Level Interim Fix (*.Z) KEY ----------------------------------------------- 4.1.0.21 IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 4.1.0.30 IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 4.1.0.40 IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 4.1.1.0 IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 4.1.1.10 IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 4.1.1.20 IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_fix 4.1.2.0 IJ57282s0a.260206.epkg.Z key_w_fix To extract the fixes from the tar file: tar xvf libxml2_fix10.tar cd libxml2_fix10 Verify you have retrieved the fixes intact: The checksums below were generated using the "openssl dgst -sha256 [filename]" command as the following: openssl dgst -sha256 filename KEY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- d329a1d4d38d968b212cd855b84df48772f586d3a766d9a5164bef46aff4a900 IJ57276sBa.260212.epkg.Z key_w_csum 86c1be602b51a370c0a188ee082a45c3b7bc164cc968d9090472d61d0ab76383 IJ57282s0a.260206.epkg.Z key_w_csum 0109e9b26a13bf548cefe0a2bcac54a8770b12861411c6ca2da982775d65c43a IJ57291s4a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_csum 444e43c3dba6a08b816677ad29dced93078e7a560a47bd35024cdaea9ef9ff0b IJ57292s1a.260212.epkg.Z key_w_csum These sums should match exactly. The OpenSSL signatures in the tar file and on this advisory can also be used to verify the integrity of the fixes. If the sums or signatures cannot be confirmed, contact IBM Support at http://ibm.com/support/ and describe the discrepancy. openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file] openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file] Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/libxml2_advisory10.asc.sig C. FIX AND INTERIM FIX INSTALLATION If possible, it is recommended that a mksysb backup of the system be created. Verify it is both bootable and readable before proceeding. To preview a fix installation: installp -a -d fix_name -p all # where fix_name is the name of the # fix package being previewed. To install a fix package: installp -a -d fix_name -X all # where fix_name is the name of the # fix package being installed. Interim fixes have had limited functional and regression testing but not the full regression testing that takes place for Service Packs; however, IBM does fully support them. Interim fix management documentation can be found at: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/managing-interim-fixes-aix To preview an interim fix installation: emgr -e ipkg_name -p # where ipkg_name is the name of the # interim fix package being previewed. To install an interim fix package: emgr -e ipkg_name -X # where ipkg_name is the name of the # interim fix package being installed. WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS: None. =============================================================================== CONTACT US: Note: Keywords labeled as KEY in this document are used for parsing purposes. If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email, please visit "My Notifications": http://www.ibm.com/support/mynotifications Contact IBM Support for questions related to this announcement: https://ibm.com/support/ For information on how to securely verify AIX security bulletins and fixes: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6985269 To obtain the OpenSSL public key that can be used to verify the signed advisories and ifixes: Download the key from our web page: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/systems_p_os_aix_security_pubkey.txt To verify the AIX/VIOS security bulletin: Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/libxml2_advisory10.asc.sig openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file] Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any assistance. REFERENCES: Complete CVSS v3 Guide: http://www.first.org/cvss/user-guide On-line Calculator v3: http://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0 RELATED INFORMATION: IBM Secure Engineering Web Portal http://www.ibm.com/security/secure-engineering/bulletins.html IBM Product Security Incident Response Blog https://www.ibm.com/blogs/psirt/ Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in libxml2 (CVE-2025-8732) affects AIX https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7261170 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: None. CHANGE HISTORY: First Issued: Wed Feb 18 08:44:14 CST 2026 =============================================================================== *The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin. Disclaimer According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.