# CVE-2016-1762: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause a denial of service via heap-based buffer over-read in libxml2 using crafted XML documents.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Mar 2016
- **Updated:** 17 Dec 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-1762, ECHO-e451-d641-716a, GHSA-r6h3-3q3x-3wcr, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-1762

## What is CVE-2016-1762?

CVE-2016-1762 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 24 Mar 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The xmlNextChar function in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read) via a crafted XML document.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer), CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-1762?

It affects 15 products.


Products: Apple Iphone Os, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Safari, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Mcafee Web Gateway, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Xmlsoft Libxml2.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-1762?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-1762 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-1762 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Iphone Os

- [CVE-2021-30666](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30666/): Apple iOS WebKit Buffer Overflow (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30761](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30761/): Apple iOS WebKit Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30762](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30762/): Apple iOS WebKit Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-4657](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4657/): Apple iOS Webkit Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-7286](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7286/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-1762 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-1762 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 24 Mar 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-1762 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Iphone Os. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1762/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1762/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-1762
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1762
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-1762

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1762/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.