XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in the xmlStringLenDecodeEntities function in parser.c in libxml2 before 2.9.4, when not in validating mode, allows context-dependent attackers to read arbitrary files or cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via unspecified vectors.
This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.1, requiring local system access to exploit with relatively low complexity though user interaction is required and does not require pre-existing privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), and availability (service disruption) for affected systems. Impacting 3 products from debian, from canonical, from xmlsoft organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.
First disclosed in 2016, this vulnerability was reported during a period defined by widespread IoT adoption challenges, mobile security concerns, and the emergence of advanced persistent threat (APT) techniques. Contemporary mitigation strategies focused on secure development practices and third-party component vetting.
2016-06-09T16:59:07.800
2025-04-12T10:46:40.837
Deferred
CVSSv3.0: 7.1 (HIGH)
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:P
8.6
4.9
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version/Range | Vulnerable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | debian | debian_linux | 8.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 12.04 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 14.04 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 15.10 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 16.04 | Yes |
| Application | xmlsoft | libxml2 | ≤ 2.9.3 | Yes |
SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For debian's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.