CVE-2021-42260Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Service hang via stalled UTF-8 input pointer

Published Oct 11, 2021 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Infinite-loop denial of service in TinyXML 2.6.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to hang XML-parsing operations with crafted XML. TiXmlParsingData::Stamp does not advance its input pointer when UTF-8 parsing reaches a TIXML_UTF_LEAD_0 byte followed by a null byte. Any application that passes attacker-controlled XML to the library can consume a processing thread indefinitely; no data disclosure or modification is reported.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability3.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite-loop denial of service in TinyXML 2.6.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to hang XML-parsing operations with crafted XML. TiXmlParsingData::Stamp does not advance its input pointer when UTF-8 parsing reaches a TIXML_UTF_LEAD_0 byte followed by a null byte. Any application that passes attacker-controlled XML to the library can consume a processing thread indefinitely; no data disclosure or modification is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42260
Published
Oct 11, 2021
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5Canonical Ubuntu SecurityCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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