CVE-2016-1836: Use After Free

Published May 20, 2016
·
Updated

A vulnerability was found in the libxml2 library. A heap-use-after free can happen in the xmlDictComputeFastKey.

References:

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/showbug.cgi?id=759398

Upstream fix:

https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=45752d2c334b50016666d8f0ec3691e2d680f0a0

Other sources

Use-after-free vulnerability in the xmlDictComputeFastKey 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 via a crafted XML document.

Affected Software

31 affected componentsFixes available
debian/libxml2
2.9.4+dfsg1-7+deb10u42.9.4+dfsg1-7+deb10u62.9.10+dfsg-6.7+deb11u42.9.14+dfsg-1.3~deb12u12.9.14+dfsg-1.3
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=15.10
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Debian Debian Linux=8.0
Apple iPhone OS<9.3.2
Apple iOS and macOS<10.11.5
Apple tvOS<9.2.1
Apple WatchOS<2.2.1
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.2
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.3
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.4
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.2
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.3
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.4
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.5
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.2
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.3
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=7.0
Xmlsoft Libxml2<2.9.4
McAfee Web Gateway>=7.5.0.0<=7.5.2.10
McAfee Web Gateway>=7.6.0.0<=7.6.2.3

Event History

May 20, 2016
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Description
May 23, 2016
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·09:51 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2016-1836?

CVE-2016-1836 is considered a high severity vulnerability due to its potential for exploitation via a heap-use-after-free condition in the libxml2 library.

2

How do I fix CVE-2016-1836?

To resolve CVE-2016-1836, upgrade libxml2 to version 2.9.4+dfsg1-7+deb10u4 or higher for Debian systems, or to equivalent patched versions for other affected distributions.

3

Which software is affected by CVE-2016-1836?

CVE-2016-1836 affects various versions of libxml2, along with multiple operating systems including Debian, Ubuntu, macOS, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

4

How does CVE-2016-1836 impact system security?

CVE-2016-1836 can lead to memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.

5

Is there a known exploit for CVE-2016-1836?

As of now, there are no publicly available exploits for CVE-2016-1836, but the vulnerability itself poses a significant risk and should be addressed promptly.

Contact

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