CVE-2022-40674

Code execution via stale raw tag-name pointers

Published Sep 14, 2022 · Updated May 30, 2025

Use-after-free in libexpat before 2.4.9 allows remote attackers to crash XML-parsing applications or execute arbitrary code via crafted XML. When parsing resumes inside an internal entity with unclosed tags, doContent returns without storeRawNames copying raw tag names out of the parse buffer, leaving pointers stale after that buffer is changed or reallocated. Exploitation requires an application to suspend and resume parsing during internal-entity substitution and then process attacker-controlled XML; the bounded outcomes are a crash or arbitrary code execution in that application's context.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability2.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in libexpat before 2.4.9 allows remote attackers to crash XML-parsing applications or execute arbitrary code via crafted XML. When parsing resumes inside an internal entity with unclosed tags, doContent returns without storeRawNames copying raw tag names out of the parse buffer, leaving pointers stale after that buffer is changed or reallocated. Exploitation requires an application to suspend and resume parsing during internal-entity substitution and then process attacker-controlled XML; the bounded outcomes are a crash or arbitrary code execution in that application's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-40674
Published
Sep 14, 2022
Updated
May 30, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 30, 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 vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.1Ubuntu SecurityCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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