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NVD / CVE Program· CNA apple

CVE-2016-4658: 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…

CriticalCVSS 9.8 · v3.0—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Plan (action score 42/100)

  • 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: 8.5% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 95.1% 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+dfsg1-2.1; libxml2 (Debian:7) 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy7; libxml2 (Debian:8) 2.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u4.

Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to libxml2 (Debian:12) 2.9.4+dfsg1-2.1; libxml2 (Debian:7) 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy7; libxml2 (Debian:8) 2.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u4 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

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.

Published
Sep 25, 2016
Updated
Oct 14, 2026
EPSS
8.5% · 95th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

42

Plan

Add it to your regular patch cycle.

CVSS
39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
3 / 30 · 8.5%

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

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Follow CVE-2016-4658

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
appleiphone os
applemac os x
appletvos
applewatchos
xmlsoftlibxml2

Affected versions

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

  • apple iphone osbefore 10.0
  • apple mac os xbefore 10.12
  • apple tvosbefore 10.0
  • apple watchosbefore 3.0
  • xmlsoft libxml2before 2.9.5

Package-level exposure

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

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12libxml2before 2.9.4+dfsg1-2.12.9.4+dfsg1-2.1
Debian:7libxml2before 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy72.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy7
Debian:8libxml2before 2.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u42.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u4
openSUSE:Tumbleweedlibxml2before 2.9.12-1.22.9.12-1.2
openSUSE:Tumbleweedruby3.2-rubygem-nokogiribefore 1.13.9-1.71.13.9-1.7
openSUSE:Tumbleweedrubygem-nokogiribefore 1.13.3-1.11.13.3-1.1
openSUSE:Tumbleweedrubygem-nokogiribefore 1.18.9-1.41.18.9-1.4
openSUSE:Tumbleweedrubygem-nokogiribefore 1.18.2-1.11.18.2-1.1
openSUSE:Tumbleweedrubygem-nokogiribefore 1.15.5-1.51.15.5-1.5
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2before 0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.60:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-debuginfobefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.60:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-develbefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.60:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-pythonbefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.60:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibxml2-staticbefore 0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.60:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6
RubyGemsnokogiribefore 1.7.11.7.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1libxml2before 2.9.1-26.3.12.9.1-26.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1python-libxml2before 2.9.1-26.3.12.9.1-26.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2libxml2before 2.9.4-33.12.9.4-33.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2python-libxml2before 2.9.4-33.12.9.4-33.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4libxml2-pythonbefore 2.7.6-0.50.42.7.6-0.50.4
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4libxml2before 2.7.6-0.50.12.7.6-0.50.1

Same product

apple: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2016-4657WebKit in Apple iOS before 9.3.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a…KEV
    85Now
  • CVE-2014-4404Heap-based buffer overflow in IOHIDFamily in Apple iOS before 8 and Apple TV before 7 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a…KEV
    76This week
  • CVE-2021-30762A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management.KEV
    68This week

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2016-4777Sep 25, 2016 · The kernel in Apple iOS before 10, OS X before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a…
    31Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2016-4778Sep 25, 2016 · The kernel in Apple iOS before 10, OS X before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a…
    31Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2016-4660Feb 20, 2017 · An issue was discovered in certain Apple products.
    29Monitor

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+dfsg1-2.1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:libxml22.9.12-1.2 · openSUSE:TumbleweedPackage registry (OSV)
opensuse:ruby3.2-rubygem-nokogiri1.13.9-1.7 · openSUSE:TumbleweedPackage registry (OSV)
opensuse:rubygem-nokogiri1.13.3-1.1 · openSUSE:TumbleweedPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml20:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-debuginfo0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-devel0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-python0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libxml2-static0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
RubyGems:nokogiri1.7.1Package registry (OSV)
suse:libxml22.9.1-26.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1Package registry (OSV)
suse:libxml2-python2.7.6-0.50.4 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4Package registry (OSV)
suse:python-libxml22.9.1-26.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1Package 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.

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · 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-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.0/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 (13 more)

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

All records