Description
The (1) xmlParserEntityCheck and (2) xmlParseAttValueComplex functions in parser.c in libxml2 2.9.3 do not properly keep track of the recursion depth, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (stack consumption and application crash) via a crafted XML document containing a large number of nested entity references.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | libxml2 | 2.9.3+dfsg1-1.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxml2 | 2.9.3+dfsg1-1.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxml2 | 2.9.3+dfsg1-1.1 | — |
| Debian 8 | libxml2 | 2.9.1+dfsg1-5+deb8u2 | DSA-3593-1 |
| Debian 7 | libxml2 | 2.8.0+dfsg1-7+wheezy6 | DLA-503-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libxml2 | 2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.1 | USN-2994-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | libxml2 | 2.9.1+dfsg1-3ubuntu4.8 | USN-2994-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | libxml2 +3 | 2.9.1-6.el7_2.3 | RHSA-2016:1292 |
| RHEL 6 | libxml2 +3 | 2.7.6-21.el6_8.1 | RHSA-2016:1292 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.1-24.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1538-1 |
| SLES 12 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.1-24.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1538-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SLES 11 SP2 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SLES 11 SP2 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.1-24.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1538-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | libxml2 +1 | 2.9.1-24.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1538-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 2.1 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 2.1 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SUSE Manager 2.1 | libxml2 | 2.7.6-0.44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
| SUSE Manager 2.1 | libxml2-python | 2.7.6-0.44.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libxml2 | 2.9.4-1.22 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10192-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python-libxml2 | 2.9.4-1.4 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10228-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | libxml2 +3 | 2.9.1-6.0.1.el7_2.3 | ELSA-2016-1292 |
Advisories 11
- RHSA-2016:1292 Red Hat Security Advisory: libxml2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Sep 21, 2026
- USN-2994-1 libxml2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3593-1 libxml2 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-503-1 libxml2 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1538-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10228-1 python-libxml2-2.9.4-1.4 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1604-1 Security update for libxml2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10192-1 libxml2-2-2.9.4-1.22 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2024-3386 libxml2: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Aug 25, 2025
- WID-SEC-2023-1614 Tenable Security Nessus Network Monitor: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 25, 2023
- ELSA-2016-1292 Important: libxml2 security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jun 23, 2016
References
- 20160503 CVE-2016-3627 CVE-2016-3705: libxml2: stack overflow in xml validator (parser) mailing-list
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05157239
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10170
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1446 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1298 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:1292 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
- DSA-3593 vendor-advisory
- USN-2994-1 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
- https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18
- https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=765207
- 89854 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2016:2957 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201701-37 vendor-advisory