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CVE-2016-4463

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers...

7.5 HighPublic exploitFix available

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

14.2%Down 20.0 points since Feb 4, 2022
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.5

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
CVE-2016-4463
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
5.0 MediumAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
Weakness
CWE-119
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
CVE-2016-4463
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2016-5452 No score

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
EUVD-2016-5452
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-vw73-mc59-g9mx 7.5

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers...

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
GHSA-vw73-mc59-g9mx
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-119
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.5

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
CVE-2016-4463
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-4463 7.5

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4463
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 8 moreShow less
OSVRHSA-2018:3335 4.7

Red Hat Security Advisory: xerces-c security update

Record
RHSA-2018:3335
CVSS 3.0
4.7 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2018:3506 4.7

Red Hat Security Advisory: xerces-c security update

Record
RHSA-2018:3506
CVSS 3.0
4.7 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2018:3514 4.7

Red Hat Security Advisory: xerces-c security update

Record
RHSA-2018:3514
CVSS 3.0
4.7 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-4463 7.5

Stack-based buffer overflow in Apache Xerces-C++ before 3.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-4463
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:10039-1 No score

libxerces-c-3_1-3.1.4-1.3 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the libxerces-c-3_1-3.1.4-1.3 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:10039-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2016:2154-1 No score

Security update for xerces-c

xerces-c was updated to fix one security issue.

This security issue was fixed:

  • CVE-2016-2099: Use-after-free vulnerability in validators/DTD/DTDScanner.cpp in Apache Xerces C++ did not properly handle exceptions raised in the XMLReader class, which allowed context-dependent attackers to have unspecified impact via an invalid character in an XML document (bsc#979208).
  • CVE-2016-4463: Apache Xerces-C XML Parser crashed on malformed DTD (bnc#985860).
Record
SUSE-SU-2016:2154-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:3277-1 No score

Security update for Xerces-c

This update for Xerces-c fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2017-12627: Processing of external DTD paths could have resulted in a null pointer dereference under certain conditions (bsc#1083630).
  • CVE-2016-4463: Prevent stack-based buffer overflow that allowed context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service via a deeply nested DTD (bsc#985860).
Record
SUSE-SU-2018:3277-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4784-1 No score

xerces-c vulnerabilities

It was discovered that Xerces-C++ XML Parser mishandles certain kinds of external DTD references, resulting in a user-after-free. An attacker could use this vulnerability to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue affected only Ubuntu 16.04 ESM. (CVE-2016-2099)

It was discovered that Xerces-C++ XML Parser fails to successfully parse a DTD that is too deeply nested. An unauthenticated attacker could use this vulnerability to cause a denial of service. This issue affected only Ubuntu 16.04 ESM. (CVE-2016-4463)

It was discovered that Xerces-C++ mishandles certain kinds of external DTD references, resulting in dereference of a NULL pointer. An attacker could use this vulnerability to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2017-12627)

Record
USN-4784-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xerces-c
Debian:12
before 3.1.3+debian-2.1
3.1.3+debian-2.1
xerces-c
Debian:13
before 3.1.3+debian-2.1
3.1.3+debian-2.1
xerces-c
Debian:14
before 3.1.3+debian-2.1
3.1.3+debian-2.1
xerces-c
Debian:7
before 3.1.1-3+deb7u4, plus listed versions
3.1.1-33.1.1-3+deb7u13.1.1-3+deb7u23.1.1-3+deb7u3
3.1.1-3+deb7u4
xerces-c
Debian:8
before 3.1.1-5.1+deb8u3, plus listed versions
3.1.1-5.13.1.1-5.1+deb8u13.1.1-5.1+deb8u2
3.1.1-5.1+deb8u3
xerces-c
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
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Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7
0:3.1.1-9.el7
xerces-c
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1
xerces-c
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::computenode
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c-debuginfo
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c-devel
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c-doc
Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::server
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1
xerces-c
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 3.1.1-12.3
3.1.1-12.3
xerces-c
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 3.1.1-12.3
3.1.1-12.3
xerces-c
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 3.1.1-12.3
3.1.1-12.3
xerces-c
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 3.1.1-12.3
3.1.1-12.3
Xerces-c
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 2.8.0-29.17.5.1
2.8.0-29.17.5.1
xerces-c
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS
before 3.1.1-5.1+deb8u3build0.14.04.1, plus listed versions
3.1.1-33.1.1-3ubuntu13.1.1-43.1.1-53.1.1-5.1~build0.14.04.13.1.1-5.1+deb8u1build0.14.04.13.1.1-5.1+deb8u2build0.14.04.1
3.1.1-5.1+deb8u3build0.14.04.1
xerces-c
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
before 3.1.3+debian-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions
3.1.1-5.13.1.2+debian-13.1.3+debian-1
3.1.3+debian-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
xerces-c
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 3.1.3+debian-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions
3.1.1-5.13.1.2+debian-13.1.3+debian-1
3.1.3+debian-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
xerces-c
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 3.2.0+debian-2ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions
3.1.4+debian-23.1.4+debian-2build13.2.0+debian-2
3.2.0+debian-2ubuntu0.1~esm1
xerces-c
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 3.1.4-1.3
3.1.4-1.3

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubarntsonl/CVE-2016-44632018-07-10

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2016-4463 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Apache Xerces-c\+\+, published June 29, 2016. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 14.2%, the 96th percentile. Fixed in xerces-c 3.1.3+debian-2.1.

References

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