Misinterpretation of malicious XML input

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

6.5 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

EPSS

• CVE-2021-32796: 1.36% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 71.71 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Impact xmldom versions 0.6.0 and older do not correctly escape special characters when serializing elements removed from their ancestor. This may lead to unexpected syntactic changes during XML processing in some downstream applications. Patches Update to one of the fixed versions of @xmldom/xmldom (=0.7.0) See issue #271 for the status of publishing xmldom to npm or join #270 for Q&A/discussion until it's resolved. Workarounds Downstream applications can validate the input and reject the maliciously crafted documents. References Similar to this one reported on the Go standard library: - https://mattermost.com/blog/coordinated-disclosure-go-xml-vulnerabilities/ - https://mattermost.com/blog/securing-xml-implementations-across-the-web/ For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: Open an issue in xmldom/xmldom Email us: send an email to all addresses that are shown by npm owner ls @xmldom/xmldom

Published by the source

3 Aug 2021, 16:57 UTC

Last modified by the source

10 Sep 2026, 03:49 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTC

1. Revision 2 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q

2. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2021-32796

Advisory: Misinterpretation of malicious XML input
IDs: CVE-2021-32796, GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2021-32796 (revision 2, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.5)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Partial vendor fix; fixed versions by package: @xmldom/xmldom 0.7.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm @xmldom/xmldom: affected < 0.7.0; fixed in 0.7.0
- npm xmldom: affected <= 0.6.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls @xmldom/xmldom --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.
- `npm ls xmldom --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
No complete vendor fix is recorded. Follow the primary source's mitigation guidance and check this record again before closing anything.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on @xmldom/xmldom, xmldom.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q (OSV record GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q lists affected ranges: npm xmldom >=0 =0 <0.7.0 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-5fg8-2547-mr8q lists affected ranges: npm xmldom >=0 =0 <0.7.0)

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