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CVE Record

CVE-2019-20199: An issue was discovered in ezXML 0.8.3 through 0.8.6.

An issue was discovered in ezXML 0.8.3 through 0.8.6. The function ezxml_decode, while parsing a crafted XML file, performs incorrect memory handling, leading to NULL pointer dereference while running strlen() on a NULL pointer.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-20199 affects ezXML 0.8.3 through 0.8.6. A specially crafted XML file can trigger a NULL pointer dereference and crash software using the parser. The likely business impact is availability disruption where ezXML processes untrusted XML. The sources do not provide CVSS scoring, active exploitation, or a named fix.

Executive priority

Treat this as an availability risk, not a confirmed breach-enabling issue. Prioritize systems where XML parsing is internet-facing, partner-facing, or operationally critical. If ezXML is only used on trusted local data, urgency is lower.

Technical view

The issue is in ezxml_decode during crafted XML parsing. Incorrect memory handling can lead to strlen() being called on a NULL pointer, producing a NULL pointer dereference. The record identifies ezXML 0.8.3 through 0.8.6. Available sources do not identify code execution, privilege escalation, or confidentiality impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in applications, appliances, or embedded software that bundle ezXML 0.8.3 through 0.8.6 and parse XML from users, partners, files, imports, or network sources. The CVE affected-product metadata is incomplete, so downstream inventory is necessary.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability requires crafted XML to reach a vulnerable parsing path. Its documented effect is a crash condition, so attacker value depends on whether parser failure disrupts an important service.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: the CVE description and SourceForge bug reference identify versions and failure mode, but not CVSS, CWE, patch version, or exploit activity. Validate actual exposure through dependency discovery and reachable XML parsing paths before assigning broad enterprise impact.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory products and codebases that embed ezXML 0.8.3 through 0.8.6.
  • Check ezXML bug 18 and downstream vendor advisories for official fixes.
  • Avoid processing untrusted XML with vulnerable builds where practical.
  • Add input restrictions around XML upload, import, and partner ingestion paths.
  • Monitor vulnerable services for parser crashes and availability degradation.

Validation and detection

  • Search SBOMs, source trees, and vendored libraries for ezXML version evidence.
  • Map all XML parsing paths reachable by users, partners, or network input.
  • Confirm whether ezxml_decode is used in exposed workflows.
  • Review crash logs for NULL pointer dereference patterns in XML handling.
  • Track remediation status separately for embedded and third-party products.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2019-20199 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.