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MEDIUM

The expat and elementtree parsers use insufficient entropy for XML hash-flooding protection

Published May 11, 2026

Description

`xml.parsers.expat` and `xml.etree.ElementTree` use insufficient entropy for Expat hash-flooding protection, which allows a crafted XML document to trigger hash flooding.\r\n\r\nFully mitigating this vulnerability requires both updating libexpat to 2.8.0 or later and applying this patch.

Affected products

Remediation

Red Hat statement

The impact from this flaw is limited to a denial of service in the Python runtime. Host Red Hat systems are not affected in their default configurations.

Red Hat mitigation

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

Metrics

Weaknesses (1)

References (16)

Change history (0)

No recorded changes yet.

Sources
CVE.org / MITRE
Status PUBLISHED
Assigner PSF
Published May 11, 2026
Updated Aug 14, 2026
Reserved Apr 27, 2026
CISA Vulnrichment
Updated May 11, 2026
NVD
Status Modified
Modified Oct 2, 2026
Red Hat
Severity Moderate
Public date May 11, 2026