CVE-2016-1839
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 before 9.2.1, and watchOS before 2.2.1, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read) via a crafted…
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB (verified), so the technical barrier is gone even though the severity is medium and EPSS is 7.3%. Treat it as high on anything reachable from the internet.
Description
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 before 9.2.1, and watchOS before 2.2.1, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read) via a crafted XML document.
- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 MEDIUMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 7.35% probability · 94th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 24 February 2016
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-125
- Affected
- apple/iphone os · apple/mac os x · apple/tvos · apple/watchos · canonical/ubuntu linux · debian/debian linux · redhat/enterprise linux desktop · redhat/enterprise linux server · redhat/enterprise linux server aus · redhat/enterprise linux server eus · redhat/enterprise linux server tus · redhat/enterprise linux workstation · mcafee/web gateway · xmlsoft/libxml2
- Source
- product-security@apple.com
EPSS moved from 12.8% on 21 September 2026 to 7.3% on 26 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00001.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00002.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00003.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90691Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035890Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038623Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2994-1Third Party Advisory
- http://xmlsoft.org/news.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1292Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=758605Exploit, Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
- https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=a820dbeac29d330bae4be05d9ecd939ad6b4aa33Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10170Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37Third Party Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT206564Vendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT206566Vendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT206567Vendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT206568Vendor Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3593Third Party Advisory
- https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00001.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00002.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00003.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.htmlThird Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.