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NVD / CVE Program· CNA redhat

CVE-2016-4448: Format string vulnerability in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via format string specifiers in unknown…

CriticalCVSS 9.8 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Plan (action score 41/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 7% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 94.2% of all records.
  • 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.
  • Fixed version: libxml2 (Debian:12) 2.9.4+dfsg1-1; libxml2 (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client) 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1; libxml2-debuginfo (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client) 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1.

Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to libxml2 (Debian:12) 2.9.4+dfsg1-1; libxml2 (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client) 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1; libxml2-debuginfo (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client) 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

Format string vulnerability in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via format string specifiers in unknown vectors.

Published
Jun 9, 2016
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
7.0% · 94th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

41

Plan

Add it to your regular patch cycle.

CVSS
39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
2 / 30 · 7.0%

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

Follow CVE-2016-4448

When you'll hear from us

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  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
hpicewall federation agent
redhatenterprise linux
applewatchos
applemac os x
xmlsoftlibxml2
appleicloud
microsoftwindows
appleiphone os
redhatenterprise linux desktop
redhatenterprise linux server
redhatenterprise linux server aus
redhatenterprise linux server eus

and 9 more

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • apple icloudbefore 5.2.1
  • apple iphone osup to 9.3.2 inclusive
  • apple itunesup to 12.4.1 inclusive
  • apple mac os xbefore 10.11.6
  • apple tvosup to 9.2.1 inclusive
  • apple watchosup to 2.2.1 inclusive
  • hp icewall federation agent3.0
  • mcafee web gateway7.6.0.0 and later · up to 7.6.2.3 inclusive
+12 more rows
  • mcafee web gatewayup to 7.5.2.10 inclusive
  • oracle linux6
  • oracle linux7
  • oracle vm server3.3
  • oracle vm server3.4
  • redhat enterprise linux desktop6.0
  • redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server6.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.2
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.3
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.4

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12libxml2before 2.9.4+dfsg1-12.9.4+dfsg1-1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientlibxml2before 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.10:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientlibxml2-debuginfobefore 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.10:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientlibxml2-develbefore 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.10:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientlibxml2-pythonbefore 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.10:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientlibxml2-staticbefore 0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.10:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.30:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-debuginfobefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.30:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-develbefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.30:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-pythonbefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.30:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-staticbefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_2.30:2.9.1-6.el7_2.3
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12libxml2before 2.9.1-24.12.9.1-24.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12python-libxml2before 2.9.1-24.12.9.1-24.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4libxml2before 2.7.6-0.44.12.7.6-0.44.1
SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 5libxml2-pythonbefore 2.7.6-0.44.42.7.6-0.44.4

Same product

hp: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2016-4447The xmlParseElementDecl function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service…
    34Monitor
  • CVE-2015-7942The xmlParseConditionalSections function in parser.c in libxml2 does not properly skip intermediary entities when it stops parsing invalid…
    28Monitor
  • CVE-2017-8945A Remote Unauthorized Disclosure of Information vulnerability in HPE IceWall Federation Agent version 3.0 was found.
    25Monitor

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2015-7498Dec 15, 2015 · Heap-based buffer overflow in the xmlParseXmlDecl function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.3 allows context-dependent attackers to cause…
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2015-7500Dec 15, 2015 · The xmlParseMisc function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.3 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service…
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
debian:libxml22.9.4+dfsg1-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml20:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-debuginfo0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-devel0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-python0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-static0:2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::clientPackage registry (OSV)
suse:libxml22.9.1-24.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12Package registry (OSV)
suse:libxml2-python2.7.6-0.44.4 · SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 5Package registry (OSV)
suse:python-libxml22.9.1-24.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12Package 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.

Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.

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
high · data can be read
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-134 · Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

ATT&CK techniques

—

References

Show all references (19 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records