VTK NULL pointer dereference vulnerability
There is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in VTK, and it lies in IO/Infovis/vtkXMLTreeReader.cxx. The vendor didn't check the return value of libxml2 API 'xmlDocGetRootElement', and try to dereference it. It is unsafe as the return value can be NULL and that NULL pointer dereference may crash the application.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | vtk | < 9.0.1 | 9.0.1 |
References
- https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/issues/17818
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-xfhg-9pjg-xg7g
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42521
- https://discourse.vtk.org/t/vtk-9-2-5-is-out/10549
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/vtk/PYSEC-2022-255.yaml
- https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PCTMSAAVP4BW2HTZLDWMGKZ2WEC5OFLK
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-400, CWE-476- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
vtk- Disclosed
- 25.08.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2022-255 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-xfhg-9pjg-xg7g - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: vtk
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 4
- First → latest
- 08.2022 10.2025
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 3
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 3
- 2026: 0
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VTK NULL pointer dereference vulnerability this entry
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