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CVE Record

CVE-2025-7425: Libxslt: libxml2: heap use-after-free in libxslt caused by atype corruption in xmlattrptr

A flaw was found in libxslt where the attribute type, atype, flags are modified in a way that corrupts internal memory management. When XSLT functions, such as the key() process, result in tree fragments, this corruption prevents the proper cleanup of ID attributes. As a result, the system may access freed memory, causing crashes or enabling attackers to trigger heap corruption.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-7425 is a memory-safety flaw in libxslt-related XSLT processing. Specially crafted processing conditions can make software reuse freed memory, potentially causing crashes or corrupting data and execution state. Red Hat identifies multiple supported RHEL streams and OpenShift 4.12 as affected.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority patch-management issue, especially on shared processing systems or services handling untrusted XML/XSLT. It is not presented as an emergency internet-wide threat: exploitation is rated local and difficult, and active exploitation is unsupported. Remediate promptly through Red Hat guidance and validate application-level reachability.

Technical view

Corruption of attribute-type flags during XSLT operations, including key() processing that creates tree fragments, can prevent correct cleanup of ID attributes. Subsequent access to freed heap memory produces a CWE-416 use-after-free. CVSS 3.1 rates it 7.8, with local access, high complexity, no privileges or interaction, changed scope, and high integrity and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where listed Red Hat systems contain the affected libxml2 or libxslt packages and applications perform XSLT transformations. The bundle names RHEL 7 ELS, numerous RHEL 8 and 9 streams, RHEL 10, and OpenShift 4.12. Installed-package presence alone does not prove the vulnerable processing path is reachable.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS describes local, high-complexity exploitation without privileges or user interaction. The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or public weaponization. KEV absence does not prove exploitation has never occurred.

Researcher notes

The bundle has attribution ambiguity: the title references both libxslt and libxml2, while affected entries include both packages and GNOME libxml2 is marked unaffected. Exact fixed-version boundaries are not supplied here. Researchers should preserve package, linkage, transformation-path, and crash evidence, and consult each referenced advisory before concluding exposure or remediation status.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory libxml2 and libxslt packages across listed RHEL and OpenShift releases.
  • Review the applicable Red Hat advisory for corrected package availability and installation guidance.
  • Prioritize systems where applications process untrusted or attacker-influenced XML and XSLT content.
  • Reduce untrusted XSLT processing where operationally feasible until vendor remediation is applied.
  • Restart or redeploy dependent services if required by the applicable vendor advisory.

Validation and detection

  • Compare installed package builds with the exact affected builds and applicable Red Hat errata.
  • Identify applications and containers dynamically or statically using libxslt or libxml2.
  • Confirm whether those applications execute XSLT transformations on attacker-influenced inputs.
  • After remediation, verify package provenance, deployed versions, and required service restarts.
  • Monitor exposed processors for abnormal crashes or memory-corruption symptoms; these are not proof of exploitation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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description · low confidence lookup

Container behavior lookup

The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-7425 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
3ADP providers
38Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: pocAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H1.45.8redhat

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-7425Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  2. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  3. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GNOMElibxml2libxml2, 0unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10libxml2, 0:2.12.5-8.el10_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10libxslt, 0:1.1.39-8.el10_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Supportlibxml2, 0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.12affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8libxml2, 0:2.9.7-21.el8_10.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8libxml2, 0:2.9.7-21.el8_10.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update Supportlibxml2, 0:2.9.7-9.el8_2.4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Supportlibxml2, 0:2.9.7-9.el8_4.7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-Onlibxml2, 0:2.9.7-9.el8_4.7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Supportlibxml2, 0:2.9.7-13.el8_6.11affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Telecommunications Update Servicelibxml2, 0:2.9.7-13.el8_6.11affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP Solutionslibxml2, 0:2.9.7-13.el8_6.11affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Servicelibxml2, 0:2.9.7-16.el8_8.10affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutionslibxml2, 0:2.9.7-16.el8_8.10affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9libxml2, 0:2.9.13-11.el9_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9libxml2, 0:2.9.13-11.el9_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP Solutionslibxml2, 0:2.9.13-1.el9_0.6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutionslibxml2, 0:2.9.13-3.el9_2.8affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Supportlibxml2, 0:2.9.13-11.el9_4affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12rhcos, 412.86.202509030110-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.13rhcos, 413.92.202509030117-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14rhcos, 414.92.202508270040-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.15rhcos, 415.92.202508192014-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.16rhcos, 416.94.202508261955-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.17rhcos, 417.94.202508141510-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.18rhcos, 418.94.202508261658-0affected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.19rhcos, 4.19.9.6.202508271124-0affected
Red HatRed Hat Web Terminal 1.11 on RHEL 9web-terminal/web-terminal-rhel9-operator, 1.11-19affected
Red HatRed Hat Web Terminal 1.11 on RHEL 9web-terminal/web-terminal-tooling-rhel9, 1.11-8affected
Red HatRed Hat Web Terminal 1.12 on RHEL 9web-terminal/web-terminal-tooling-rhel9, 1.12-4affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-416

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

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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