REDHAT-BUG-2413801: Medium severity libvirt libvirt vulnerability

Published Nov 10, 2025

Updated

A flaw was discovered in libvirt in the XML file processing. More specifically, the parsing of user provided XML files was performed before the ACL checks (https://libvirt.org/acl.html). A malicious user with limited permissions could exploit this flaw by submitting a specially crafted XML file, causing libvirt to allocate too much memory on the host. The excessive memory consumption could lead to a libvirt process crash on the host, resulting in a denial-of-service condition.

Upstream issue: https://gitlab.com/libvirt/libvirt/-/issues/825

Patch: https://lists.libvirt.org/archives/list/devel@lists.libvirt.org/thread/LTGHU3S4JEMCF5KJNJGWWZ7F2CS6L5SG/

Affected Software

1 affected component

libvirt libvirt

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade libvirt to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Patch https://lists.libvirt.org/archives/list/devel@lists.libvirt.org/thread/LTGHU3S4JEMCF5KJNJGWWZ7F2CS6L5SG/
Compensating control
Until the upstream patch is applied, restrict who can submit user-provided XML to libvirt. Limit access to libvirt management interfaces to trusted administrators (via firewall rules, ACLs or network segmentation) and prevent low-privilege or untrusted users from submitting XML that will be parsed by libvirt.

Event History

Nov 10, 2025

Data Sourced

via Red Hat·04:19 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-2413801?

The severity of REDHAT-BUG-2413801 is considered to be high due to the potential for unauthorized access through crafted XML files.

How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-2413801?

To fix REDHAT-BUG-2413801, ensure that the version of libvirt you are using is updated to a version that has addressed this vulnerability.

What causes REDHAT-BUG-2413801?

REDHAT-BUG-2413801 is caused by improper access control checks during the processing of user-provided XML files in libvirt.

Who is affected by REDHAT-BUG-2413801?

Users of libvirt who allow untrusted input or who run configurations reliant on XML file processing are affected by REDHAT-BUG-2413801.

Can REDHAT-BUG-2413801 be exploited remotely?

Yes, REDHAT-BUG-2413801 can potentially be exploited remotely if an attacker can provide malicious XML files to the libvirt service.