IBM SECURITY ADVISORY
First Issued: Wed Jun 4 08:36:14 CDT 2025
The most recent version of this document is available here:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/libxml2_advisory8.asc
Security Bulletin: Multiple vulnerabilities in libxml2 affect AIX
===============================================================================
SUMMARY:
Vulnerabilities in libxml2 could allow a use-after-free (CVE-2024-56171),
a NULL pointer dereference (CVE-2025-27113), a buffer overflow
(CVE-2025-24928), or a heap-based buffer under-read (CVE-2025-32415). AIX
uses libxml2 as part of its XML parsing functions.
===============================================================================
VULNERABILITY DETAILS:
CVEID: CVE-2024-56171
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-56171
DESCRIPTION: libxml2 before 2.12.10 and 2.13.x before 2.13.6 has a
use-after-free in xmlSchemaIDCFillNodeTables and
xmlSchemaBubbleIDCNodeTables in xmlschemas.c. To exploit this, a
crafted XML document must be validated against an XML schema with
certain identity constraints, or a crafted XML schema must be used.
CVSS Base Score: 7.8
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N)
CVEID: CVE-2025-27113
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-27113
DESCRIPTION: libxml2 before 2.12.10 and 2.13.x before 2.13.6 has a NULL
pointer dereference in xmlPatMatch in pattern.c.
CVSS Base Score: 7.5
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
CVEID: CVE-2025-24928
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-24928
DESCRIPTION: libxml2 before 2.12.10 and 2.13.x before 2.13.6 has a
stack-based buffer overflow in xmlSnprintfElements in valid.c. To
exploit this, DTD validation must occur for an untrusted document
or untrusted DTD. NOTE: this is similar to CVE-2017-9047.
CVSS Base Score: 7.8
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N)
CVEID: CVE-2025-32415
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-32415
DESCRIPTION: In libxml2 before 2.13.8 and 2.14.x before 2.14.2,
xmlSchemaIDCFillNodeTables in xmlschemas.c has a heap-based buffer
under-read. To exploit this, a crafted XML document must be validated
against an XML schema with certain identity constraints, or a crafted
XML schema must be used.
CVSS Base Score: 7.5
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
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 7.2.5.204 key_w_fs
bos.rte.control 7.3.1.0 7.3.1.3 key_w_fs
bos.rte.control 7.3.2.0 7.3.2.2 key_w_fs
bos.rte.control 7.3.3.0 7.3.3.0 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 IJ54679 ** SP10 key_w_apar
7.3.1 IJ54873 ** N/A key_w_apar
7.3.2 IJ54779 ** SP04 key_w_apar
7.3.3 IJ54754 ** SP01 key_w_apar
VIOS Level APAR Availability SP KEY
-----------------------------------------------------
3.1.4 IJ54679 ** 3.1.4.60 key_w_apar
4.1.0 IJ54779 ** 4.1.0.40 key_w_apar
4.1.1 IJ54754 ** 4.1.1.10 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_fix8.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
----------------------------------------------
7.2.5.7 IJ54679m7a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.2.5.8 IJ54679m9a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.2.5.9 IJ54679m9a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.1.2 IJ54873m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.1.3 IJ54873m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.1.4 IJ54873m4a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.2.1 IJ54779m1a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.2.2 IJ54779m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.2.3 IJ54779m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
7.3.3.0 IJ54754m0a.250522.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
-----------------------------------------------
3.1.4.31 IJ54679m7a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
3.1.4.41 IJ54679m9a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
3.1.4.50 IJ54679m9a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
4.1.0.10 IJ54779m1a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
4.1.0.21 IJ54779m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
4.1.0.30 IJ54779m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
4.1.1.0 IJ54754m0a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_fix
To extract the fixes from the tar file:
tar xvf libxml2_fix8.tar
cd libxml2_fix8
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
643b42552a61ffa52bbe1649c26c0ae1e5f8aad1dd1f74522b4ba8ee538a8d53 IJ54679m7a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_csum
f7de82cd6f8acf9162062980ae16bdd7cc9c7b1b002a5bb12cffe106de775ea5 IJ54679m9a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_csum
30a4736f9b7e6660dce4f841b44d8488c818b50825578cd5059054898ae87681 IJ54754m0a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_csum
c11ed7a6059f3f4f2092768b9660ea930e7f008f83c640802b05f860c2671aa4 IJ54779m1a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_csum
ddb39d3ae68422984a95472d051d331941e904c69bb062d781b581ea69de53ac IJ54779m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_csum
6912d5763bda3a3ae288571ce3ee11e6bbf5f15ee2f0422a13d67c4f78249cce IJ54873m3a.250522.epkg.Z key_w_csum
dfd9f8eee3bd68f8ec1cc077275d54a96dad355668ef1522dd11c6f3c85665ed IJ54873m4a.250522.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_advisory8.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_advisory8.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: Multiple vulnerabilities in libxml2 affect AIX
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7235623
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
None.
CHANGE HISTORY:
First Issued: Wed Jun 4 08:36:14 CDT 2025
===============================================================================
*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.