Application exit via NUL after declaration whitespace
Published Dec 13, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Reachable assertion in TinyXML 2.6.2 and earlier allows attackers to terminate an application through a crafted XML declaration. TiXmlDeclaration::Parse passes the declaration's version value to StringEqual; a NUL byte after whitespace causes StringEqual to assert instead of rejecting the malformed input. Exposure requires an application to parse attacker-controlled XML with TinyXML, and a successful trigger aborts that application process rather than affecting confidentiality or integrity.
Summary
What happened
Reachable assertion in TinyXML 2.6.2 and earlier allows attackers to terminate an application through a crafted XML declaration. TiXmlDeclaration::Parse passes the declaration's version value to StringEqual; a NUL byte after whitespace causes StringEqual to assert instead of rejecting the malformed input. Exposure requires an application to parse attacker-controlled XML with TinyXML, and a successful trigger aborts that application process rather than affecting confidentiality or integrity.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-34194
- Published
- Dec 13, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-617, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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What is affected?
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Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Public exploit references
- Sierra:21 malformed XML demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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