diff mbox

[libnftables,2/2] src: support for XML parsing

Message ID 20130429123612.26114.46794.stgit@nfdev.cica.es
State RFC
Headers show

Commit Message

Arturo Borrero April 29, 2013, 12:36 p.m. UTC
This patch adds capabilities for parsing a XML table/chain/rule

Some points to note:
	* the XML data is case sensitive (so <chain>asd</chain> != <chain>ASD</chain> != <CHAIN>asd</CHAIN>)
	* all exported functions will receive a XML and return an object (aka table|chain|rule)
	* XML parsing is done with libmxml (http://minixml.org)

NOTE: expr/target and expr/match binary data are ignored.

Some code examples/test cases will be added to libnftables in a future patch.

Signed-off-by: Arturo Borrero González <arturo.borrero.glez@gmail.com>
---
 Make_global.am              |    2 
 configure.ac                |    1 
 include/libnftables/chain.h |    1 
 include/libnftables/rule.h  |    1 
 include/libnftables/table.h |    1 
 src/chain.c                 |  178 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 src/expr/bitwise.c          |  115 +++++++++++++++++++
 src/expr/cmp.c              |   99 +++++++++++++++++
 src/expr/counter.c          |   63 +++++++++++
 src/expr/data_reg.c         |  255 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 src/expr/immediate.c        |   98 +++++++++++++++++
 src/expr/lookup.c           |   75 +++++++++++++
 src/expr/match.c            |   57 ++++++++++
 src/expr/meta.c             |   64 +++++++++++
 src/expr/nat.c              |  130 ++++++++++++++++++++++
 src/expr/payload.c          |   89 +++++++++++++++
 src/expr/target.c           |   59 ++++++++++
 src/expr_ops.h              |    1 
 src/libnftables.map         |    3 +
 src/rule.c                  |  169 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 src/table.c                 |   78 +++++++++++++
 21 files changed, 1535 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)


--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe netfilter-devel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html

Comments

Pablo Neira Ayuso May 3, 2013, 4:24 p.m. UTC | #1
On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 02:36:12PM +0200, Arturo Borrero wrote:
> This patch adds capabilities for parsing a XML table/chain/rule
> 
> Some points to note: * the XML data is case sensitive (so
> <chain>asd</chain> != <chain>ASD</chain> != <CHAIN>asd</CHAIN>) *
> all exported functions will receive a XML and return an object (aka
> table|chain|rule) * XML parsing is done with libmxml
> (http://minixml.org)
> 
> NOTE: expr/target and expr/match binary data are ignored.
> 
> Some code examples/test cases will be added to libnftables in a
> future patch.

Please, you have to change this to some --enable-xml-parser option via
hen ./configure, so it's not a hard dependency on libmxml.
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe netfilter-devel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Arturo Borrero May 8, 2013, 10:36 a.m. UTC | #2
2013/5/3 Pablo Neira Ayuso <pablo@netfilter.org>:
> Please, you have to change this to some --enable-xml-parser option via
> hen ./configure, so it's not a hard dependency on libmxml.

I need some help.

I have conditional package checking, something like this in configure.ac:
[...]
dnl Dependencies
PKG_CHECK_MODULES([LIBMNL], [libmnl >= 1.0.0])
AC_ARG_WITH([xml], AS_HELP_STRING([--with-xml-parsing], [Build with
XML parsing]))
AS_IF([test "x$with_xml_parsing" = "xyes"], [
   PKG_CHECK_MODULES([LIBXML], [mxml >= 2.6])
])
[...]

This way, mxml is only checked if configure was run like this:
$ ./configure --with-xml-parsing

Then, I think I need some way to get makefiles updated, so I could do:

[...]
#ifdef XML_PARSING
#include <mxml.h>
#endif
[...]

I think this could be achieve with
$ gcc: -DXML_PARSING [...]

Running './configure --with-xml-parsing' needs to generate some
variable or modify Makefile.am or Make_global.am so I can pass to gcc
the -DXML_PARSING option.

Please, consider this a bad explanation or even that my approach is
actually wrong.

Any idea?

Regards

--
Arturo Borrero González
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe netfilter-devel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Arturo Borrero May 8, 2013, 11:26 a.m. UTC | #3
2013/5/8 Arturo Borrero Gonzalez <arturo.borrero.glez@gmail.com>:
> Running './configure --with-xml-parsing' needs to generate some
> variable or modify Makefile.am or Make_global.am so I can pass to gcc
> the -DXML_PARSING option.
>

Ok, I did this:

[...]
regular_CPPFLAGS="-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_REENTRANT"
AS_IF([test "x$with_xml_parsing" = "xyes"], [
        regular_CPPFLAGS="$regular_CPPFLAGS -DXML_PARSING"
])
[...]

that seems to work.

--
Arturo Borrero González
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe netfilter-devel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
diff mbox

Patch

diff --git a/Make_global.am b/Make_global.am
index 1654f10..8205938 100644
--- a/Make_global.am
+++ b/Make_global.am
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ 
 #
 LIBVERSION=0:0:0
 
-AM_CPPFLAGS = ${regular_CPPFLAGS} -I${top_srcdir}/include ${LIBMNL_CFLAGS}
+AM_CPPFLAGS = ${regular_CPPFLAGS} -I${top_srcdir}/include ${LIBMNL_CFLAGS} ${LIBMXML_CFLAGS}
 AM_CFLAGS = ${regular_CFLAGS} ${GCC_FVISIBILITY_HIDDEN}
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 01c170a..523133f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@  m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
 
 dnl Dependencies
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([LIBMNL], [libmnl >= 1.0.0])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([LIBMXML], [mxml >= 2.6])
 
 AC_PROG_CC
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O
diff --git a/include/libnftables/chain.h b/include/libnftables/chain.h
index a7f6a50..af51191 100644
--- a/include/libnftables/chain.h
+++ b/include/libnftables/chain.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@  enum {
 	NFT_CHAIN_O_XML,
 };
 
+int nft_chain_xml_parse(struct nft_chain *c, char *xml);
 int nft_chain_snprintf(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_chain *t, uint32_t type, uint32_t flags);
 
 struct nlmsghdr *nft_chain_nlmsg_build_hdr(char *buf, uint16_t cmd, uint16_t family, uint16_t type, uint32_t seq);
diff --git a/include/libnftables/rule.h b/include/libnftables/rule.h
index 50944cd..66143c7 100644
--- a/include/libnftables/rule.h
+++ b/include/libnftables/rule.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@  enum {
 	NFT_RULE_O_XML,
 };
 
+int nft_rule_xml_parse(struct nft_rule *r, char *xml);
 int nft_rule_snprintf(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_rule *t, uint32_t type, uint32_t flags);
 
 struct nlmsghdr *nft_rule_nlmsg_build_hdr(char *buf, uint16_t cmd, uint16_t family, uint16_t type, uint32_t seq);
diff --git a/include/libnftables/table.h b/include/libnftables/table.h
index c50650f..94c236c 100644
--- a/include/libnftables/table.h
+++ b/include/libnftables/table.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@  enum {
 	NFT_TABLE_O_XML,
 };
 
+int nft_table_xml_parse(struct nft_table *t, char *xml);
 int nft_table_snprintf(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_table *t, uint32_t type, uint32_t flags);
 
 struct nlmsghdr *nft_table_nlmsg_build_hdr(char *buf, uint16_t cmd, uint16_t family, uint16_t type, uint32_t seq);
diff --git a/src/chain.c b/src/chain.c
index 44a0e66..97eaacd 100644
--- a/src/chain.c
+++ b/src/chain.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ 
 #include <libmnl/libmnl.h>
 #include <linux/netfilter/nfnetlink.h>
 #include <linux/netfilter/nf_tables.h>
+#include <mxml.h>
 
 #include <libnftables/chain.h>
 
@@ -446,6 +447,183 @@  int nft_chain_nlmsg_parse(const struct nlmsghdr *nlh, struct nft_chain *c)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(nft_chain_nlmsg_parse);
 
+int nft_chain_xml_parse(struct nft_chain *c, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	char *endptr = NULL;
+	unsigned long long int utmp;
+	long int tmp;
+
+	/* NOTE: all XML nodes are mandatory */
+
+	/* Load the tree */
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* Get and set <chain name="xxx" ... >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "name") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	strncpy(c->name, mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "name"),
+		NFT_CHAIN_MAXNAMELEN);
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_NAME);
+
+	/* Get and set <chain handle="x" ... >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "handle") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	* checking here (and followings):
+	*       dest type overflow,
+	*       strtoul overflow,
+	*       bad string
+	*/
+	errno = 0;
+	utmp = strtoull(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "handle"), &endptr, 10);
+	if (utmp > UINT64_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	c->handle = (uint64_t)utmp;
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_HANDLE);
+
+	/* Get and set <chain bytes="x" ... >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "bytes") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	utmp = strtoull(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "bytes"), &endptr, 10);
+	if (utmp > UINT64_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	c->bytes = (uint64_t)utmp;
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_BYTES);
+
+	/* Get and set <chain packets="x" ... > */
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "packets") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	utmp = strtoull(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "packets"), &endptr, 10);
+	if (utmp > UINT64_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	c->packets = (uint64_t)utmp;
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_PACKETS);
+
+	/* Ignore <properties> node */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "properties", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+
+	/* Get and set <type> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "type", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (c->type)
+		free(c->type);
+
+	c->type = strdup(node->child->value.opaque);
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_TYPE);
+
+	/* Get and set <table> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "table", NULL, NULL,	MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	if (c->table)
+		free(c->table);
+
+	c->table = strdup(node->child->value.opaque);
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_TABLE);
+
+	/* Get and set <prio> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "prio", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	tmp = strtol(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > INT32_MAX || tmp < INT32_MIN || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	memcpy(&c->prio, &tmp, sizeof(c->prio));
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_PRIO);
+
+	/* Ignore <use> (cannot be set)*/
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "use", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+
+	/* Get and set <hooknum> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "hooknum", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	utmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (utmp > UINT32_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	memcpy(&c->hooknum, &utmp, sizeof(c->hooknum));
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_HOOKNUM);
+
+	/* Get and set <policy> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "policy", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	utmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (utmp > UINT32_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	c->policy = (uint32_t)utmp;
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_POLICY);
+
+	/* Get and set <family> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "family", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	utmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (utmp > UINT8_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	c->family = (uint32_t)utmp;
+	c->flags |= (1 << NFT_CHAIN_ATTR_FAMILY);
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(nft_chain_xml_parse);
+
 static int nft_chain_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_chain *c)
 {
 	return snprintf(buf, size,
diff --git a/src/expr/bitwise.c b/src/expr/bitwise.c
index ddcf6a7..9edb682 100644
--- a/src/expr/bitwise.c
+++ b/src/expr/bitwise.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ 
 #include "data_reg.h"
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_bitwise {
 	enum nft_registers	sreg;
 	enum nft_registers	dreg;
@@ -196,6 +198,118 @@  nft_rule_expr_bitwise_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr)
 }
 
 static int
+nft_rule_expr_bitwise_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_bitwise *bitwise = (struct nft_expr_bitwise *)e;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *save = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	union nft_data_reg data_regtmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("bitwise", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+
+	/* get and set <sreg> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	* Checking here (and followins)
+	*	dst type overflow
+	*	strtol overflow
+	*	bad number string
+	*/
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	bitwise->sreg = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_BITWISE_SREG);
+
+	/* get and set <dreg> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "dreg", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	bitwise->dreg = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_BITWISE_DREG);
+
+	/* Get and set <mask> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "mask", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* hack for mxmSaveAllocString to print just the current node */
+	save = node->next;
+	node->next = NULL;
+	if (nft_data_reg_xml_parse(&data_regtmp,
+			mxmlSaveAllocString(node, MXML_NO_CALLBACK)) < 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	node->next = save;
+
+	memcpy(&bitwise->mask.val, data_regtmp.val, data_regtmp.len);
+	bitwise->mask.len = data_regtmp.len;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_BITWISE_MASK);
+
+	/* Get and set <xor> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "xor", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* hack for mxmSaveAllocString to print just the current node */
+	save = node->next;
+	node->next = NULL;
+	if (nft_data_reg_xml_parse(&data_regtmp,
+			mxmlSaveAllocString(node, MXML_NO_CALLBACK)) < 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	memcpy(&bitwise->xor.val, data_regtmp.val, data_regtmp.len);
+	bitwise->xor.len = data_regtmp.len;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_BITWISE_XOR);
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
 nft_rule_expr_bitwise_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size,
 				   struct nft_expr_bitwise *bitwise)
 {
@@ -280,4 +394,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_bitwise = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_bitwise_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_bitwise_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_bitwise_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_bitwise_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/cmp.c b/src/expr/cmp.c
index 3de849a..455489c 100644
--- a/src/expr/cmp.c
+++ b/src/expr/cmp.c
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ 
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 #include "data_reg.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_cmp {
 	union nft_data_reg	data;
 	uint8_t			sreg;	/* enum nft_registers */
@@ -166,6 +168,102 @@  static char *expr_cmp_str[] = {
 	[NFT_CMP_GTE]	= "gte",
 };
 
+static int nft_rule_expr_cmp_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_cmp *cmp = (struct nft_expr_cmp *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *save = NULL;
+	union nft_data_reg data_regtmp;
+	unsigned int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("cmp", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <sreg>. Is not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		/*
+		* Checking here (and followings)
+		*	dst data type overflow
+		*	strtol overflow
+		*	bad number string
+		*/
+
+		errno = 0;
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT8_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		cmp->sreg = (uint8_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_CMP_SREG);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <op>. Is not mandatory*/
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "op", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "eq") == 0) {
+			cmp->op = NFT_CMP_EQ;
+		} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "neq") == 0) {
+			cmp->op = NFT_CMP_NEQ;
+		} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "lt") == 0) {
+			cmp->op = NFT_CMP_LT;
+		} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "lte") == 0) {
+			cmp->op = NFT_CMP_LTE;
+		} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "gt") == 0) {
+			cmp->op = NFT_CMP_GT;
+		} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "gte") == 0) {
+			cmp->op = NFT_CMP_GTE;
+		} else {
+			/* If <op> is present, a valid value is mandatory */
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_CMP_OP);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <cmpdata>. Is not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "cmpdata", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		/* hack for mxmSaveAllocString to print just the current node */
+		save = node->next;
+		node->next = NULL;
+
+		if (nft_data_reg_xml_parse(&data_regtmp,
+			mxmlSaveAllocString(node, MXML_NO_CALLBACK)) < 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		node->next = save;
+
+		memcpy(&cmp->data.val, data_regtmp.val, data_regtmp.len);
+		cmp->data.len = data_regtmp.len;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_CMP_DATA);
+	}
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
 static int
 nft_rule_expr_cmp_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_expr_cmp *cmp)
 {
@@ -227,4 +325,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_cmp = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_cmp_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_cmp_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_cmp_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_cmp_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/counter.c b/src/expr/counter.c
index 550d56d..b82d722 100644
--- a/src/expr/counter.c
+++ b/src/expr/counter.c
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ 
 #include <libnftables/rule.h>
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_counter {
 	uint64_t	pkts;
 	uint64_t	bytes;
@@ -125,6 +127,66 @@  nft_rule_expr_counter_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+
+static int
+nft_rule_expr_counter_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_counter *ctr = (struct nft_expr_counter *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	char *endptr;
+	unsigned long long int tmp;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("counter", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* get and set <pkts>. Is not mandatory*/
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "pkts", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		errno = 0;
+		tmp = strtoull(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT64_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		ctr->pkts = (uint64_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_CTR_PACKETS);
+	}
+
+	/* get and set <bytes> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "bytes", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoull(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT64_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		ctr->bytes = (uint64_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_CTR_BYTES);
+	}
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
 static int
 nft_rule_expr_counter_snprintf(char *buf, size_t len, uint32_t type,
 			       uint32_t flags, struct nft_rule_expr *e)
@@ -153,4 +215,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_counter = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_counter_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_counter_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_counter_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_counter_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/data_reg.c b/src/expr/data_reg.c
index 78c7d49..3f66452 100644
--- a/src/expr/data_reg.c
+++ b/src/expr/data_reg.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
 #include <libmnl/libmnl.h>
@@ -23,9 +24,256 @@ 
 #include "data_reg.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 
-static int nft_data_reg_value_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size,
-					   union nft_data_reg *reg,
-					   uint32_t flags)
+#include <mxml.h>
+
+static int nft_data_reg_verdict_xml_parse(union nft_data_reg *reg, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	char *endptr;
+	long int tmp;
+
+	/*
+	* <data_reg type="verdict" >
+		<verdict>int</verdict>
+	* </data_reg>
+	*/
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "data_reg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and validate <data_reg type="verdict" >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type"), "verdict") != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <verdict> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "verdict", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtol(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > INT_MAX || tmp < INT_MIN || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	reg->verdict = tmp;
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int nft_data_reg_chain_xml_parse(union nft_data_reg *reg, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+
+	/*
+	* <data_reg type="chain" >
+		<chain>string</chain>
+	* </data_reg>
+	*/
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "data_reg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and validate <data_reg type="chain" >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type"), "chain") != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <chain> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "chain", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* no max len value to validate? */
+	if (strlen(node->child->value.opaque) < 1) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (reg->chain)
+		free(reg->chain);
+
+	reg->chain = strdup(node->child->value.opaque);
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int nft_data_reg_value_xml_parse(union nft_data_reg *reg, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	int i, len;
+	long int tmp;
+	unsigned long int utmp;
+	char *endptr;
+	char node_name[6];
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "data_reg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	* <data_reg type="value">
+	*    <len>4</len>
+	*    <data0>0xc09a002a</data0>
+	*    <data1>0x2700cac1</data1>
+	*    <data2>0x00000000</data2>
+	*    <data3>0x08000000</data3>
+	* </data_reg>
+	*/
+
+	/* Get and validate <data_reg type="value" ... >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "value") != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get <len> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "len", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	* Checking here (and followings):
+	*	dest type overflow
+	*	strtol overflow
+	*	bad string
+	*/
+
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtol(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > INT_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	/* maybe also (len < 1 || len > 4) */
+	len = tmp;
+
+	/* Get and set <dataN> */
+	for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+		sprintf(node_name, "data%d", i);
+
+		node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, node_name, NULL,
+				       NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+		if (node == NULL) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		utmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 16);
+		if (utmp > UINT32_MAX || utmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+		reg->val[i] = tmp;
+	}
+
+	reg->len = sizeof(reg->val);
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int nft_data_reg_xml_parse(union nft_data_reg *reg, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "data_reg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get <data_reg type="xxx" ... >*/
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Select what type of parsing is needed */
+	if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "value") == 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return nft_data_reg_value_xml_parse(reg, xml);
+	} else if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "verdict") == 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return nft_data_reg_verdict_xml_parse(reg, xml);
+	} else if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "chain") == 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return nft_data_reg_chain_xml_parse(reg, xml);
+	}
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return -1;
+}
+
+
+
+static
+int nft_data_reg_value_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size,
+				    union nft_data_reg *reg, uint32_t flags)
 {
 	int len = size, offset = 0, ret, i, j;
 	uint8_t *tmp;
@@ -251,3 +499,4 @@  int nft_parse_data(union nft_data_reg *data, struct nlattr *attr, int *type)
 
 	return ret;
 }
+
diff --git a/src/expr/immediate.c b/src/expr/immediate.c
index 10f7793..af09f07 100644
--- a/src/expr/immediate.c
+++ b/src/expr/immediate.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ 
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 #include "data_reg.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_immediate {
 	union nft_data_reg	data;
 	enum nft_registers	dreg;
@@ -196,6 +198,101 @@  nft_rule_expr_immediate_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr)
 }
 
 static int
+nft_rule_expr_immediate_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_immediate *imm = (struct nft_expr_immediate *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *save = NULL;
+	union nft_data_reg data_regtmp;
+	uint32_t tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	/* load the tree */
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("immediate", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <dreg>. Is mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "dreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	imm->dreg = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_IMM_DREG);
+
+	/* Get and set <immdata>. Is mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "immdata", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* hack for mxmSaveAllocString to print just the current node */
+	save = node->next;
+	node->next = NULL;
+
+	if (nft_data_reg_xml_parse(&data_regtmp,
+			mxmlSaveAllocString(node, MXML_NO_CALLBACK)) < 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	node->next = save;
+
+	/* data_reg type switch */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "data_reg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "value") == 0) {
+		memcpy(&imm->data.val, data_regtmp.val, data_regtmp.len);
+		imm->data.len = data_regtmp.len;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_IMM_DATA);
+	} else if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "verdict") == 0) {
+		imm->data.verdict = data_regtmp.verdict;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_IMM_VERDICT);
+	} else if (strcmp(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"), "chain") == 0) {
+		if (imm->data.chain)
+			free(imm->data.chain);
+
+		imm->data.chain = strdup(data_regtmp.chain);
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_IMM_CHAIN);
+	}
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
 nft_rule_expr_immediate_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t len,
 				     struct nft_rule_expr *e, uint32_t flags)
 {
@@ -282,4 +379,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_immediate = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_immediate_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_immediate_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_immediate_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_immediate_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/lookup.c b/src/expr/lookup.c
index 1046615..78afd22 100644
--- a/src/expr/lookup.c
+++ b/src/expr/lookup.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ 
 #include "data_reg.h"
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 #ifndef IFNAMSIZ
 #define IFNAMSIZ	16
 #endif
@@ -151,6 +153,78 @@  nft_rule_expr_lookup_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr)
 }
 
 static int
+nft_rule_expr_lookup_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_lookup *lookup = (struct nft_expr_lookup *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("lookup", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* get and set <set>. Is mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "set", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	memcpy(lookup->set_name, node->child->value.opaque, IFNAMSIZ);
+	lookup->set_name[IFNAMSIZ-1] = '\0';
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_LOOKUP_SET);
+
+	/* get and set <sreg>. Is mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	errno = 0;
+
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	lookup->sreg = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_LOOKUP_SREG);
+
+	/* get and set <dreg>. Isn't mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "dreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		lookup->dreg = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_LOOKUP_DREG);
+	}
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
 nft_rule_expr_lookup_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size,
 				  struct nft_expr_lookup *l)
 {
@@ -202,4 +276,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_lookup = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_lookup_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_lookup_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_lookup_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_lookup_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/match.c b/src/expr/match.c
index 57c5ab9..59d68fd 100644
--- a/src/expr/match.c
+++ b/src/expr/match.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ 
 #include <libnftables/expr.h>
 #include <libnftables/rule.h>
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
 struct nft_expr_match {
@@ -184,6 +186,60 @@  static int nft_rule_expr_match_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *att
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int nft_rule_expr_match_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_match *mt = (struct nft_expr_match *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	/* load the tree */
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("match", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* get and set <name>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "name", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		memcpy(mt->name, node->child->value.opaque,
+		       XT_EXTENSION_MAXNAMELEN);
+		mt->name[XT_EXTENSION_MAXNAMELEN-1] = '\0';
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_MT_NAME);
+	}
+
+	/* get and set <rev>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "rev", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		errno = 0;
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		mt->rev = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_MT_REV);
+	}
+
+	/* mt->info is ignored until other solution is reached */
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int nft_rule_expr_match_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t len,
 					    struct nft_expr_match *mt)
 {
@@ -235,4 +291,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_match = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_match_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_match_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_match_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_match_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/meta.c b/src/expr/meta.c
index bfc1aa6..aa94948 100644
--- a/src/expr/meta.c
+++ b/src/expr/meta.c
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ 
 #include <libnftables/rule.h>
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
+
 struct nft_expr_meta {
 	uint8_t			key;	/* enum nft_meta_keys */
 	uint8_t			dreg;	/* enum nft_registers */
@@ -125,6 +128,66 @@  nft_rule_expr_meta_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int nft_rule_expr_meta_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_meta *meta = (struct nft_expr_meta *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("meta", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <dreg>. Is mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "dreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT8_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	meta->dreg = (uint8_t)tmp;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_META_DREG);
+
+	/* Get and set <key>. Is mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "key", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT8_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	meta->key = (uint8_t)tmp;
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_META_KEY);
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int
 nft_rule_expr_meta_snprintf(char *buf, size_t len, uint32_t type,
 			    uint32_t flags, struct nft_rule_expr *e)
@@ -154,4 +217,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_meta = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_meta_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_meta_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_meta_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_meta_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/nat.c b/src/expr/nat.c
index 56212a7..8c402f5 100644
--- a/src/expr/nat.c
+++ b/src/expr/nat.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ 
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 #include <libmnl/libmnl.h>
 #include <linux/netfilter/nf_tables.h>
@@ -21,6 +22,8 @@ 
 #include <libnftables/rule.h>
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_nat {
 	enum nft_registers sreg_addr_min;
 	enum nft_registers sreg_addr_max;
@@ -201,6 +204,132 @@  nft_rule_expr_nat_build(struct nlmsghdr *nlh, struct nft_rule_expr *e)
 				 htonl(nat->sreg_proto_max));
 }
 
+
+
+static int nft_rule_expr_nat_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_nat *nat = (struct nft_expr_nat *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("nat", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <type>. Mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "type", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "NFT_NAT_SNAT") == 0) {
+		nat->type = NFT_NAT_SNAT;
+	} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "NFT_NAT_DNAT") == 0) {
+		nat->type = NFT_NAT_DNAT;
+	} else {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_NAT_TYPE);
+
+	/* Get and set <family>. Mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "family", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "AF_INET") == 0) {
+		nat->family = AF_INET;
+	} else if (strcmp(node->child->value.opaque, "AF_INET6") == 0) {
+		nat->family = AF_INET6;
+	} else {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_NAT_FAMILY);
+
+	/* Get and set <sreg_addr_min_v4>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg_addr_min_v4", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		errno = 0;
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) < 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		nat->sreg_addr_min = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_NAT_REG_ADDR_MIN);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <sreg_addr_max_v4>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg_addr_max_v4", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) < 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		nat->sreg_addr_max = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_NAT_REG_ADDR_MAX);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <sreg_proto_min>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg_proto_min", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) < 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		nat->sreg_proto_min = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_NAT_REG_PROTO_MIN);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <sreg_proto_max>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "sreg_proto_max", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) < 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		nat->sreg_proto_max = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_NAT_REG_PROTO_MAX);
+	}
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
 static int
 nft_rule_expr_nat_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size,
 				struct nft_rule_expr *e)
@@ -305,4 +434,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_nat = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_nat_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_nat_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_nat_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_nat_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/payload.c b/src/expr/payload.c
index 091078b..64be139 100644
--- a/src/expr/payload.c
+++ b/src/expr/payload.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ 
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
 #include <libmnl/libmnl.h>
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ 
 
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_payload {
 	enum nft_registers	dreg;
 	enum nft_payload_bases	base;
@@ -165,6 +168,91 @@  nft_rule_expr_payload_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr)
 }
 
 static int
+nft_rule_expr_payload_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_payload *payload = (struct nft_expr_payload *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("payload", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <dreg>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "dreg", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		errno = 0;
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		payload->dreg = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_PAYLOAD_DREG);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <base>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "base", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		payload->base = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_PAYLOAD_BASE);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <offset>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "offset", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		payload->offset = (unsigned int)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_PAYLOAD_OFFSET);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <len>. Not mandatory */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "len", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		payload->len = (unsigned int)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_PAYLOAD_LEN);
+	}
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
 nft_rule_expr_payload_snprintf(char *buf, size_t len, uint32_t type,
 			       uint32_t flags, struct nft_rule_expr *e)
 {
@@ -197,4 +285,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_payload = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_payload_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_payload_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_payload_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_payload_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr/target.c b/src/expr/target.c
index d3de8e8..d2982de 100644
--- a/src/expr/target.c
+++ b/src/expr/target.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ 
 
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 struct nft_expr_target {
 	char		name[XT_EXTENSION_MAXNAMELEN];
 	uint32_t	rev;
@@ -184,6 +186,62 @@  static int nft_rule_expr_target_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *at
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+nft_rule_expr_target_xml_parse(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml)
+{
+	struct nft_expr_target *tg = (struct nft_expr_target *)e->data;
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	/* load the tree */
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("target", mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "type")) != 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <name>. Optional */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "name", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node != NULL) {
+		memcpy(tg->name, node->child->value.opaque,
+					XT_EXTENSION_MAXNAMELEN);
+		tg->name[XT_EXTENSION_MAXNAMELEN-1] = '\0';
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_TG_NAME);
+	}
+
+	/* Get and set <rev>. Optional */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "rev", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		errno = 0;
+		tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+		if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0
+						|| strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		tg->rev = (uint32_t)tmp;
+		e->flags |= (1 << NFT_EXPR_TG_REV);
+	}
+
+	/* tg->info is ignored until other solution is reached */
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static
 int nft_rule_exp_target_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t len,
 				struct nft_expr_target *tg)
@@ -235,4 +293,5 @@  struct expr_ops expr_ops_target = {
 	.parse		= nft_rule_expr_target_parse,
 	.build		= nft_rule_expr_target_build,
 	.snprintf	= nft_rule_expr_target_snprintf,
+	.xml_parse	= nft_rule_expr_target_xml_parse,
 };
diff --git a/src/expr_ops.h b/src/expr_ops.h
index d6e4ec9..ff4c648 100644
--- a/src/expr_ops.h
+++ b/src/expr_ops.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@  struct expr_ops {
 	int 	(*parse)(struct nft_rule_expr *e, struct nlattr *attr);
 	void	(*build)(struct nlmsghdr *nlh, struct nft_rule_expr *e);
 	int	(*snprintf)(char *buf, size_t len, uint32_t type, uint32_t flags, struct nft_rule_expr *e);
+	int	(*xml_parse)(struct nft_rule_expr *e, char *xml);
 };
 
 struct expr_ops *nft_expr_ops_lookup(const char *name);
diff --git a/src/libnftables.map b/src/libnftables.map
index 957e3b6..5913976 100644
--- a/src/libnftables.map
+++ b/src/libnftables.map
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@  global:
   nft_table_attr_get;
   nft_table_attr_set_u32;
   nft_table_attr_get_u32;
+  nft_table_xml_parse;
   nft_table_snprintf;
   nft_table_nlmsg_build_hdr;
   nft_table_nlmsg_build_payload;
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@  global:
   nft_chain_attr_get_s32;
   nft_chain_attr_get_u64;
   nft_chain_attr_get_str;
+  nft_chain_xml_parse;
   nft_chain_snprintf;
   nft_chain_nlmsg_build_hdr;
   nft_chain_nlmsg_build_payload;
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@  global:
   nft_rule_attr_get_u32;
   nft_rule_attr_get_u64;
   nft_rule_attr_get_str;
+  nft_rule_xml_parse;
   nft_rule_snprintf;
   nft_rule_nlmsg_build_hdr;
   nft_rule_nlmsg_build_payload;
diff --git a/src/rule.c b/src/rule.c
index 3945676..4a4847d 100644
--- a/src/rule.c
+++ b/src/rule.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ 
 #include "linux_list.h"
 #include "expr_ops.h"
 
+#include "mxml.h"
+
 struct nft_rule {
 	struct list_head head;
 
@@ -437,6 +439,173 @@  int nft_rule_nlmsg_parse(const struct nlmsghdr *nlh, struct nft_rule *r)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(nft_rule_nlmsg_parse);
 
+int nft_rule_xml_parse(struct nft_rule *r, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *save = NULL;
+	struct nft_rule_expr *e;
+	struct expr_ops *ops;
+	char *endptr;
+	unsigned long long int tmp;
+
+	/* Load the tree */
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* get and set <rule ... family=X ... > */
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "family") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	* Checking here (and followings):
+	*	dest type overflow
+	*	strtol overflow
+	*	badformed number string
+	*/
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtoull(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "family"), &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT8_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	r->family = (uint8_t)tmp;
+	r->flags |= (1 << NFT_RULE_ATTR_FAMILY);
+
+	/* get and set <rule ... table=X ...> */
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "table") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (r->table)
+		free(r->table);
+
+	r->table = strdup(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "table"));
+
+	/* get and set <rule ... chain=X ...> */
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "chain") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (r->chain)
+		free(r->chain);
+
+	r->chain = strdup(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "chain"));
+	r->flags |= (1 << NFT_RULE_ATTR_CHAIN);
+
+	/* get and set <rule ... handle=X ...> */
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "handle") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	tmp = strtoull(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "handle"), &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT64_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	r->handle = (uint64_t)tmp;
+	r->flags |= (1 << NFT_RULE_ATTR_HANDLE);
+
+	/* get and set <rule_flags> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "rule_flags", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	tmp = strtoull(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	r->rule_flags = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	r->flags |= (1 << NFT_RULE_ATTR_FLAGS);
+
+	/* get and set <compat_proto> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "compat_proto", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	tmp = strtoull(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	r->compat.proto = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	r->flags |= (1 << NFT_RULE_ATTR_COMPAT_PROTO);
+
+	/* get and set <compat_flags> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "compat_flags", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	tmp = strtoull(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	r->compat.flags = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	r->flags |= (1 << NFT_RULE_ATTR_COMPAT_FLAGS);
+
+	/* Iterating over <expr> */
+	for (node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "expr", "type",
+				    NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+		node != NULL;
+		node = mxmlFindElement(node, tree, "expr", "type",
+				       NULL, MXML_DESCEND)) {
+
+		if (mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type") == NULL) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		ops = nft_expr_ops_lookup(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"));
+		if (ops == NULL) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		e = nft_rule_expr_alloc(mxmlElementGetAttr(node, "type"));
+		if (e == NULL) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		/* This is a hack for mxml to print just the current node */
+		save = node->next;
+		node->next = NULL;
+
+		if (ops->xml_parse(e, mxmlSaveAllocString(node,
+				   MXML_NO_CALLBACK)) != 0) {
+			mxmlDelete(tree);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		nft_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+
+		node->next = save;
+		save = NULL;
+	}
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(nft_rule_xml_parse);
+
 static int nft_rule_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_rule *r,
 				 uint32_t type, uint32_t flags)
 {
diff --git a/src/table.c b/src/table.c
index 8adaba8..ad676dd 100644
--- a/src/table.c
+++ b/src/table.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ 
 #include <time.h>
 #include <endian.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <netinet/in.h>
@@ -21,6 +22,8 @@ 
 #include <linux/netfilter/nfnetlink.h>
 #include <linux/netfilter/nf_tables.h>
 
+#include <mxml.h>
+
 #include <libnftables/table.h>
 
 struct nft_table {
@@ -182,6 +185,81 @@  int nft_table_nlmsg_parse(const struct nlmsghdr *nlh, struct nft_table *t)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(nft_table_nlmsg_parse);
 
+int nft_table_xml_parse(struct nft_table *t, char *xml)
+{
+	mxml_node_t *tree = NULL;
+	mxml_node_t *node = NULL;
+	char *endptr;
+	unsigned long int tmp;
+
+	/* NOTE: all XML nodes are mandatory */
+
+	/* Load the tree */
+	tree = mxmlLoadString(NULL, xml, MXML_OPAQUE_CALLBACK);
+	if (tree == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* Get and set the name of the table */
+	if (mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "name") == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (t->name)
+		free(t->name);
+
+	t->name = strdup(mxmlElementGetAttr(tree, "name"));
+	t->flags |= (1 << NFT_TABLE_ATTR_NAME);
+
+	/* Ignore <properties> node */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "properties", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND_FIRST);
+
+	/* Get the and set <family> node */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "family", NULL, NULL, MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	* checking here (and followings):
+	*	dest type overflow,
+	*	strtoul overflow,
+	*	bad string
+	*/
+	errno = 0;
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT8_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	t->family = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	t->flags |= (1 << NFT_TABLE_ATTR_FAMILY);
+
+	/* Get and set <table_flags> */
+	node = mxmlFindElement(tree, tree, "table_flags", NULL, NULL,
+			       MXML_DESCEND);
+	if (node == NULL) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	tmp = strtoul(node->child->value.opaque, &endptr, 10);
+	if (tmp > UINT32_MAX || tmp < 0 || errno != 0 || strlen(endptr) > 0) {
+		mxmlDelete(tree);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	t->table_flags = (uint32_t)tmp;
+	t->flags |= (1 << NFT_TABLE_ATTR_FLAGS);
+
+	mxmlDelete(tree);
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(nft_table_xml_parse);
+
 static int nft_table_snprintf_xml(char *buf, size_t size, struct nft_table *t)
 {
 	return snprintf(buf, size,