CVE-2016-1838: Medium severity ubuntu vulnerability

Published May 20, 2016
·
Updated

A vulnerability was found in the libxml2 library. A heap-based buffer overread could happen in xmlParserPrintFileContextInternal

References:

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/showbug.cgi?id=758588

Upstream fix:

https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=db07dd613e461df93dde7902c6505629bf0734e9

Other sources

The xmlPArserPrintFileContextInternal 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.

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
McAfee Web Gateway>=7.5.0.0<=7.5.2.10
McAfee Web Gateway>=7.6.0.0<=7.6.2.3
Xmlsoft Libxml2<=2.9.4

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·09:54 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2016-1838?

CVE-2016-1838 is considered a moderate severity vulnerability due to the potential for heap-based buffer overread.

2

How do I fix CVE-2016-1838?

To fix CVE-2016-1838, update the libxml2 library to a version that is not vulnerable, such as those specified in the remedy list.

3

Which software is affected by CVE-2016-1838?

CVE-2016-1838 affects several versions of the libxml2 library across various operating systems including Debian, Ubuntu, and Red Hat.

4

What are the exploitation implications of CVE-2016-1838?

An attacker could potentially exploit CVE-2016-1838 to read sensitive information from memory, leading to data leakage.

5

Is there a public reference for CVE-2016-1838?

Yes, more details can be found in public vulnerability databases and security announcements related to CVE-2016-1838.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203