CVE-2025-52891
ModSecurity XML Tag Segmentation Fault Vulnerability
Description
ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. In versions 2.9.8 to before 2.9.11, an empty XML tag can cause a segmentation fault. If SecParseXmlIntoArgs is set to On or OnlyArgs, and the request type is application/xml, and at least one XML tag is empty (eg <foo></foo>), then a segmentation fault occurs. This issue has been patched in version 2.9.11. A workaround involves setting SecParseXmlIntoArgs to Off.
INFO
Published Date :
July 2, 2025, 3:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 3, 2025, 3:13 p.m.
Source :
[email protected]
Remotely Exploitable :
Yes !
Impact Score :
3.6
Exploitability Score :
2.8
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-52891
.
URL | Resource |
---|---|
https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/commit/ecd7b9736836eee391d25f35d5bd06a3ce35a45d | |
https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/security/advisories/GHSA-gw9c-4wfm-vj3x |
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-52891
vulnerability anywhere in the article.

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Cyber Security News
Critical ModSecurity WAF Vulnerability Allows Denial of Service via Empty XML Tags
A newly discovered denial-of-service vulnerability in the ModSecurity Web Application Firewall (WAF) engine has security experts on high alert. The flaw, designated CVE-2025-52891, affects specific ve ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-52891
vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jul. 02, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. In versions 2.9.8 to before 2.9.11, an empty XML tag can cause a segmentation fault. If SecParseXmlIntoArgs is set to On or OnlyArgs, and the request type is application/xml, and at least one XML tag is empty (eg <foo></foo>), then a segmentation fault occurs. This issue has been patched in version 2.9.11. A workaround involves setting SecParseXmlIntoArgs to Off. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Added CWE CWE-20 Added Reference https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/commit/ecd7b9736836eee391d25f35d5bd06a3ce35a45d Added Reference https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/security/advisories/GHSA-gw9c-4wfm-vj3x
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-52891
is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-52891
weaknesses.