# CVE-2016-2099: Use after free in n/a

> A use-after-free flaw in Apache Xerces C++ allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code via malicious XML input.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 May 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-2099, DLA-467-1, DSA-3579-1, ECHO-5b5f-645d-4720, GHSA-pgr8-2267-r79x, MGASA-2016-0189, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-2099

## What is CVE-2016-2099?

CVE-2016-2099 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Opensuse Opensuse, published on 13 May 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Use-after-free vulnerability in validators/DTD/DTDScanner.cpp in Apache Xerces C++ 3.1.3 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to have unspecified impact via an invalid character in an XML document.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-2099?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apache Xerces-C\+\+, Opensuse Opensuse.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-2099?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-2099 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2099 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Opensuse Opensuse

- [CVE-2017-12627](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12627/): Null dereference in Apache Xerces C++ (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-37536](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37536/): HCL BigFix Platform is vulnerable to an integer overflow in xerces-c++ 3.2.3 (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2024-23807](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-23807/): Apache Xerces C++: Use-after-free on external DTD scan (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2018-1311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1311/): Use after free in Apache Xerces-C (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2008-4482](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4482/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-2099 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-2099 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Opensuse Opensuse, published on 13 May 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2099 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Opensuse Opensuse. 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-2016-2099/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2099/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2099
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2099
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-2099

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2099/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.