libxml2: Use after free via namespace node in XPointer ranges
Published Sep 25, 2016
9.8
CRITICALCVSS 3.0
EPSS 8.56%
Description
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
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
libxml2-0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6
Fixed · RHSA-2021:3810
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
libxml2
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
libxml2
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
libxml2
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
mingw-libxml2
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | libxml2-0:2.9.1-6.el7_9.6 | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3810 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | libxml2 | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | libxml2 | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | libxml2 | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | mingw-libxml2 | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This flaw can be triggered by parsing untrusted XML files via applications compiled with libxml2 causing the application to crash. For web browsers or browser like applications, which parse untrusted web content, it may be possible to trigger this flaw without any user intervention and cause remote code execution with the permissions of the user running the browser. For other applications this flaw is difficult to trigger and even difficult to exploit in real life situations. The status of mingw-libxml2 package in RHEL-8 is marked as "not-affected" because it does not impact end-users.
Red Hat mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (16 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 8.56% (0.08559) | 94.91th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 8.63% (0.08628) | 94.39th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 30, 2026 | 15.39% (0.15391) | 94.76th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 12, 2026 | 11.27% (0.11265) | 93.59th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 11, 2026 | 15.39% (0.15391) | 94.70th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 17.71% (0.17714) | 94.99th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 19.75% (0.19753) | 94.97th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 36.68% (0.36683) | 95.60th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 19.34% (0.19344) | 94.90th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 5.01% (0.05012) | 92.75th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 1.97% (0.01965) | 89.21th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 12, 2024 | 1.92% (0.01921) | 88.73th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 1.92% (0.01921) | 86.73th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 4.61% (0.04607) | 88.94th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 4.61% (0.04607) | 87.84th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 4.61% (0.04607) | 74.16th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (18)
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00006.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_APPLEMailing ListVendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00008.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_APPLEMailing ListVendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00010.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_APPLEMailing ListVendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00011.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_APPLEMailing ListVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93054 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036858 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038623 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-4658 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1384424 Issue Tracking
- https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=c1d1f7121194036608bf555f08d3062a36fd344b x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fr52-4hqw-p27f Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4658
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT207141 x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT207142 x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT207143 x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT207170 x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4658
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.