CRITICAL
CVE-2022-25235
CWE-116Published: February 16, 2022· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
9.8
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
xmltok_impl.c in Expat (aka libexpat) before 2.4.5 lacks certain validation of encoding, such as checks for whether a UTF-8 character is valid in a certain context.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-25235 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Vendors & Products
Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
Fedora1 product(s)
fedora
libexpat_project1 product(s)
libexpat
Oracle2 product(s)
http serverzfs storage appliance kit
siemens1 product(s)
sinema remote connect server
Source: NVD CPE · 9 total CPE entries
Exploit & PoC Resources
NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (20)
→
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/02/19/1Mailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-484086.pdfThird Party Advisory
→
https://github.com/libexpat/libexpat/pull/562Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00007.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202209-24Third Party Advisory
→
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220303-0008/Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5085Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.htmlPatch · Third Party Advisory
→
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/02/19/1Mailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-484086.pdfThird Party Advisory
→
https://github.com/libexpat/libexpat/pull/562Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00007.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2022-25235
CVSS Score9.8 / 10
SeverityCRITICAL
WeaknessCWE-116
CISA KEVNo
Affected5 vendor(s)
PublishedFeb 16, 2022
Related CVEs (CWE-116)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2022-25235 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.