CVE-2016-4463
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.
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
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 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 Medium
AV: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
xerces-cDebian:12 |
before 3.1.3+debian-2.1 | 3.1.3+debian-2.1 |
xerces-cDebian:13 |
before 3.1.3+debian-2.1 | 3.1.3+debian-2.1 |
xerces-cDebian:14 |
before 3.1.3+debian-2.1 | 3.1.3+debian-2.1 |
xerces-cDebian: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-cDebian: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-cRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-docRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-cRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
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| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
xerces-c-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-docRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-cRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-docRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-cRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-c-docRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:3.1.1-9.el7 | 0:3.1.1-9.el7 |
xerces-cRed 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-debuginfoRed 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-develRed 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-docRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::computenode |
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1 | 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1 |
xerces-cRed 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-debuginfoRed 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-develRed 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-docRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.5::server |
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1 | 0:3.1.1-8.el7_5.1 |
xerces-cRed 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-debuginfoRed 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-develRed 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-docRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::computenode |
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1 | 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1 |
xerces-cRed 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-debuginfoRed 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-develRed 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-docRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.4::server |
before 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1 | 0:3.1.1-8.el7_4.1 |
xerces-cSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 3.1.1-12.3 | 3.1.1-12.3 |
xerces-cSUSE: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-cSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 3.1.1-12.3 | 3.1.1-12.3 |
xerces-cSUSE: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-cSUSE: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-cUbuntu: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-cUbuntu: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-cUbuntu: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-cUbuntu: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-copenSUSE: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.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | arntsonl/CVE-2016-4463 | 2018-07-10 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE 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
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/XERCESC-2069
issues.apache.org/jira/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa?projectId=10510&version=12336069
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3335
debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3610
securitytracker.com/id/1036211
Show 34 moreShow less
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-09/msg00013.html
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3506
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3514
securityfocus.com/bid/91501
xerces.apache.org/xerces-c/secadv/CVE-2016-4463.txt
securityfocus.com/archive/1/538784/100/0/threaded
packetstormsecurity.com/files/137714/Apache-Xerces-C-XML-Parser-Crash.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-07/msg00053.html
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4463
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-4463
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1348845
github.com/advisories/GHSA-vw73-mc59-g9mx
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-4463
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/7.6_release_notes/index
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2018/rhsa-2018_3335.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4463
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2018/rhsa-2018_3506.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2018/rhsa-2018_3514.json
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2016/suse-su-20162154-1
bugzilla.suse.com/979208
bugzilla.suse.com/985860
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2099
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-4463
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2018/suse-su-20183277-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1083630
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-12627
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-4463
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4784-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2099
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-12627
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2009-1885
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-0729