Lucene search
K

Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-0990

🗓️ 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 1 Views

Unpatched libxml2 DoS via recursive xmlCatalogXMLResolveURI on self-referencing delegates in XML catalogs.

Related
Refs
Code
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(286278);
  script_version("1.6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/03/27");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2026-0990");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-0990");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - A flaw was found in libxml2, an XML parsing library. This uncontrolled recursion vulnerability occurs in
    the xmlCatalogXMLResolveURI function when an XML catalog contains a delegate URI entry that references
    itself. A remote attacker could exploit this configuration-dependent issue by providing a specially
    crafted XML catalog, leading to infinite recursion and call stack exhaustion. This ultimately results in a
    segmentation fault, causing a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing affected applications. (CVE-2026-0990)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-0990");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-0990");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2026-0990");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2026/01/15");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2026/01/15");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:centos:centos:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:centos:centos:8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:11.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:12.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:13.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:libxml2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:libxml2-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:libxml2-python");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:libxml2-static");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:python3-libxml2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:libxml2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:libxml2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:libxml2-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:libxml2-python");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:libxml2-static");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:python3-libxml2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/CentOS Linux-7", "Host/OS/CentOS Linux-8", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-13", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-10", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-8", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-9");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/CentOS/rpm-list")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-dev"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-doc"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-utils"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-13": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "13",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-dev"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-doc"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-utils"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-dev"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-doc"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-utils"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2-dbg"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-10": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "10",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-static"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "CentOS Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-python"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-static"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "6",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-python"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-static"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-python"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-static"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "CentOS Linux-8": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "8",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-8": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "8",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-9": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "9",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxml2"},
          {"reference": "libxml2-devel"},
          {"reference": "python3-libxml2"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

Data

Build on a solid foundation with Vulners data

We provide the essential building blocks for cybersecurity solutions with comprehensive, structured, and constantly updated vulnerability and exploits data

Api

Power your application with Vulners API

The Vulners REST API offers reliable, high-performance access to vulnerability intelligence, with 99.9% SLA uptime and CDN-backed data delivery for seamless global access

App

Assess and manage vulnerabilities with Vulners tools

Built on top of Vulners' database and SDK, end-user solutions give security professionals and developers lightweight and powerful tools for vulnerability remediation

27 Mar 2026 00:00Current
6Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6
CVSS 3.15.9
EPSS0.00088
SSVC
1