CVE-2016-1839

MEDIUM

Apple iPhone OS < 9.3.2 - Out-of-bounds Read in xmlDictAddString

Title source: llm

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2016-1839. PoCs published by Google Security Research.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates a heap-based out-of-bounds memory read vulnerability in libxml2 2.9.3, triggered by a malformed XML file processed via xmllint. The crash occurs due to improper bounds checking in the HTML parser, leading to a denial-of-service condition.

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.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED

by Google Security Research · textdoslinux

https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39491

View Code ZIP pw:eip

This exploit demonstrates a heap-based out-of-bounds memory read vulnerability in libxml2 2.9.3, triggered by a malformed XML file processed via xmllint. The crash occurs due to improper bounds checking in the HTML parser, leading to a denial-of-service condition.

Classification

Working Poc 90%

Attack Type

Dos

Complexity

Trivial

Reliability

Reliable

Target: libxml2 2.9.3

No auth needed

Prerequisites: A malformed XML file · Access to xmllint or a service using libxml2

MITRE ATT&CK

T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service

devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (24)

Core 24

Core References

Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html

Patch, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10170

Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1292

Exploit, Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=758605

Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html

Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://support.apple.com/HT206567

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90691

Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian

https://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3593

Release Notes, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://xmlsoft.org/news.html

Mailing List, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple

http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00004.html

Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu

http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2994-1

Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://support.apple.com/HT206566

Patch, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=a820dbeac29d330bae4be05d9ecd939ad6b4aa33

Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html

Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18

Mailing List, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple

http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00003.html

Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://support.apple.com/HT206564

Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.html

Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo

https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack

http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035890

Mailing List, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple

http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00002.html

Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack

http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038623

Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm

https://support.apple.com/HT206568

Mailing List, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple

http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00001.html

Scores

CVSS v3 5.5

EPSS 0.0741

EPSS Percentile 93.6%

Attack Vector LOCAL

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Details

CWE

CWE-125

Status published

Products (29)

apple/iphone_os < 9.3.2

apple/mac_os_x < 10.11.5

apple/tvos < 9.2.1

apple/watchos < 2.2.1

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

mcafee/web_gateway 7.5.0.0 - 7.5.2.10

... and 19 more

Published May 20, 2016

Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026