Heap-based buffer overflow in Libxml2 - CVE-2016-1840

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Main Vulnerability Database Vulnerabilities #VU109836

Heap-based buffer overflow in Libxml2 - CVE-2016-1840

Published: May 27, 2025


Vulnerability identifier: #VU109836
CSH Severity: Medium
CVSS v4: 7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2016-1840
CWE-ID: CWE-122
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability: No public exploit available

Vulnerability details

The vulnerability allows a local user to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due to a boundary error in the xmlFAParsePosCharGroup function in libxml2. A local user can trick the victim into opening a specially crafted XML document, trigger a heap-based buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.


Affected software

Libxml2
IBM Observability with Instana
BIG-IP

How to mitigate CVE-2016-1840

Cybersecurity Help is currently unaware of any official solution to address this vulnerability..

Libxml2 - update to 2.9.4
IBM Observability with Instana - update to 1.0.295
BIG-IP - update to 12.1.2

External References

Related Security Bulletins