Libxml2
CVE-2016-4658
CRITICAL
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, buffer size validation
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 17.71%. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
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 before 3, and other products) does not forbid namespace nodes in XPointer ranges,. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Epss exploitation probability 17.7%.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Use memory-safe languages or bounds-checking. Enable ASLR, DEP/NX, stack canaries. Use safe string functions.
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in rubygems
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 as Buffer Overflow (CWE-119), which allows attackers to corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application. 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 before 3, and other products) does not forbid namespace nodes in XPointer ranges, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (use-after-free and memory corruption) via a crafted XML document. Affected products include: Apple Iphone Os, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos, Xmlsoft Libxml2. Version information: before 2.9.5.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
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 before 3, and other products) does not forbid namespace nodes in XPointer ranges, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (use-after-free and memory corruption) via a crafted XML document.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
VulDB
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
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
Stack-based buffer overflow in libxml2's xmlBuildQName function allows remote unauthenticated attackers to crash affecte
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
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
The xmlDictAddString function in libxml2 before 2.9.4, as used in Apple iOS before 9.3.2, OS X before 10.11.5, tvOS befo
The xmlPArserPrintFileContextInternal function in libxml2 before 2.9.4, as used in Apple iOS before 9.3.2, OS X before 1
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB