xmldom: Uncontrolled Recursion
CVE-2026-41673 is a high-severity uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in xmldom, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected xmldom versions: xmldom <= 0.6.0; @xmldom/xmldom >= 0.9.0, < 0.9.10; @xmldom/xmldom < 0.8.13. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.64% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 51% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of xmldom you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xmldom | xmldom | xmldom <= 0.6.0; @xmldom/xmldom >= 0.9.0, < 0.9.10; @xmldom/xmldom < 0.8.13 | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Developer Hub 1.9 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Fuse 7 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Self-service automation portal 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA |
Official description
xmldom is a pure JavaScript W3C standard-based (XML DOM Level 2 Core) `DOMParser` and `XMLSerializer` module. In @xmldom/xmldom prior to versions 0.9.10 and 0.8.13 and xmldom version 0.6.0 and prior, seven recursive traversals in lib/dom.js operate without a depth limit. A sufficiently deeply nested DOM tree causes a RangeError: Maximum call stack size exceeded, crashing the application. This issue has been patched in versions @xmldom/xmldom versions 0.9.10 and 0.8.13.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Recursion
The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that an end condition will be reached under all logic conditions. The end condition may include checking against the depth of recursion and exiting with an error if the recursion goes too deep. The complexity of the end condition contributes to the effectiveness of this action.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/17678a2a73ecbd1a2da90f3d47dc23da9cef81aa
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/291257493cb0eb6980eda83b162a9c4e6d7d2597
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/2d6d6916ed8a4c223db1f6d7560ab4544c465b0f
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/430357c7b6333108856e917bf2367afe5ceb6f8a
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/4845ef109221df0890825de2822fbe77afba3afe
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/8834218c85ac2a4d757b9587c9028e67c2f7b6c3
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/8b7cfd1491314abdc347261921d7334ff15f7112
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/b0620383abc1df067f3ce1014c43ae1bc1161eeb
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/commit/e6edcab6bef5bcdba0b220bb35442aa72f452b84
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/releases/tag/0.8.13
- github.com/xmldom/xmldom/releases/tag/0.9.10
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in xmldom
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
Recent Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.