The xmlParseElementDecl function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-b
The xmlParseElementDecl function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer underread and application crash) via a crafted file, involving xmlParseName.
- Published
- Jun 9, 2016
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 14.0% · 96th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
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Report tools
Action score
34
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 4 / 30 · 14.0%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| hp | icewall federation agent | cpe:2.3:a:hp:icewall_federation_agent |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| oracle | vm server | cpe:2.3:o:oracle:vm_server |
| apple | itunes | cpe:2.3:a:apple:itunes |
| microsoft | windows | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows |
| apple | iphone os | cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os |
| apple | mac os x | cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x |
| apple | tvos | cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos |
| apple | watchos | cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos |
| xmlsoft | libxml2 | cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2 |
| mcafee | web gateway | cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:web_gateway |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apple iphone osup to 9.3.2 inclusive
- apple itunes12.4.1
- apple mac os xup to 10.11.5 inclusive
- apple tvosup to 9.2.1 inclusive
- apple watchosup to 2.2.1 inclusive
- canonical ubuntu linux12.04
- canonical ubuntu linux14.04
- canonical ubuntu linux15.10
- canonical ubuntu linux16.04
- debian debian linux7.0
- debian debian linux8.0
- hp icewall federation agent3.0
- mcafee web gateway7.6.0.0 and later · up to 7.6.2.3 inclusive
- mcafee web gateway7.5.0.0 and later · up to 7.5.2.10 inclusive
- oracle vm server3.3
- oracle vm server3.4
- xmlsoft libxml2up to 2.9.3 inclusive
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libxml2 | before 2.9.3+dfsg1-1.1 | 2.9.3+dfsg1-1.1 |
| Debian:7 | libxml2 | before 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy6 | 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy6 |
| Debian:8 | libxml2 | before 2.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u2 | 2.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libxml2 | before 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libxml2-debuginfo | before 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libxml2-devel | before 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libxml2-python | before 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libxml2-static | before 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libxml2 | before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 | 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libxml2-debuginfo | before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 | 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libxml2-devel | before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 | 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libxml2-python | before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 | 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libxml2-static | before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 | 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | libxml2 | before 2.9.1-24.1 | 2.9.1-24.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | python-libxml2 | before 2.9.1-24.1 | 2.9.1-24.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | libxml2 | before 2.7.6-0.44.1 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 |
| SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 5 | libxml2-python | before 2.7.6-0.44.4 | 2.7.6-0.44.4 |
Same product
hp: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2016-4448Format string vulnerability in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via format string specifiers in unknown vect41Plan
- CVE-2015-7942The xmlParseConditionalSections function in parser.c in libxml2 does not properly skip intermediary entities when it stops parsing invalid i28Monitor
- CVE-2017-8945A Remote Unauthorized Disclosure of Information vulnerability in HPE IceWall Federation Agent version 3.0 was found.25Monitor
- CVE-2015-7500The xmlParseMisc function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.3 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds22Monitor
- CVE-2015-7498Heap-based buffer overflow in the xmlParseXmlDecl function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.3 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a22Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:libxml2 | 2.9.3+dfsg1-1.1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libxml2 | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libxml2-debuginfo | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libxml2-devel | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libxml2-python | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libxml2-static | 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:libxml2 | 2.9.1-24.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 · SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:python-libxml2 | 2.9.1-24.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
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References
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00000.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00001.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00002.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00003.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00005.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.html
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/25/2
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/90864
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1036348
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2994-1
- xmlsoft.org/news.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1292
- git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=00906759053986b8079985644172085f74331f83
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05194709
- kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10170
- support.apple.com/HT206899
- support.apple.com/HT206901
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.