1.218. xerces-j2

Updated xerces-j2 packages that fix a security issue are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

This update has been rated as having moderate security impact by the Red Hat Security Response Team.

The xerces-j2 packages provide the Apache Xerces2 Java Parser, a high-performance XML parser. A Document Type Definition (DTD) defines the legal syntax (and also which elements can be used) for certain types of files, such as XML files.

A flaw was found in the way the Apache Xerces2 Java Parser processed the SYSTEM identifier in DTDs. A remote attacker could provide a specially-crafted XML file, which once parsed by an application using the Apache Xerces2 Java Parser, would lead to a denial of service (application hang due to excessive CPU use). (CVE-2009-2625)

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain a backported patch to correct this issue. Applications using the Apache Xerces2 Java Parser must be restarted for this update to take effect.