Libxml2
CVE-2016-3705
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation, allowlisting
|
| Impact | CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.03%. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system. |
Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.
Alert meAnalysisAI
The (1) xmlParserEntityCheck and (2) xmlParseAttValueComplex functions in parser.c in libxml2 2.9.3 do not properly keep track of the recursion depth, which allows context-dependent attackers to. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.
Affects your stack
Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20. The (1) xmlParserEntityCheck and (2) xmlParseAttValueComplex functions in parser.c in libxml2 2.9.3 do not properly keep track of the recursion depth, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (stack consumption and application crash) via a crafted XML document containing a large number of nested entity references. Affected products include: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Xmlsoft Libxml2, Debian Debian Linux, Hp Icewall Federation Agent, Hp Icewall File Manager.
Know when Libxml2 gets its next vulnerability
- Watch products and get an email when something new is published
- Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
No credit card · 7-day full trial
Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionCVE.org
The (1) xmlParserEntityCheck and (2) xmlParseAttValueComplex functions in parser.c in libxml2 2.9.3 do not properly keep track of the recursion depth, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (stack consumption and application crash) via a crafted XML document containing a large number of nested entity references.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
Stack-based buffer overflow in libxml2's xmlBuildQName function allows remote unauthenticated attackers to crash affecte
xpointer.c in libxml2 before 2.9.5 (as used in Apple iOS before 10, OS X before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS befor
The xmlNextChar function in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer
Heap-based buffer overflow in the xmlStrncat function in libxml2 before 2.9.4, as used in Apple iOS before 9.3.2, OS X b
Heap-based buffer overflow in the xmlFAParsePosCharGroup function in libxml2 before 2.9.4, as used in Apple iOS before 9
Alpine Linux: libxml2 fixed in 2.12.7-r0
An issue was discovered in libxml2 before 2.10.3. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploit
A buffer overflow was discovered in libxml2 20904-GITv2.9.4-16-g0741801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerabil
The xmlParseElementDecl function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denia
parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.5 does not prevent infinite recursion in parameter entities. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.
The xmlBufAttrSerializeTxtContent function in xmlsave.c in libxml2 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial
Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities in libxml2 2.9.0 and possibly other versions might allow context-dependent attac
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB