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CVE-2016-4609: Xmlsoft Libxslt: Memory corruption

CVE-2016-4609 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Xmlsoft Libxslt, along with 4 other products in NVD’s configuration data. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

libxslt in Apple iOS before 9.3.3, OS X before 10.11.6, iTunes before 12.4.2 on Windows, iCloud before 5.2.1 on Windows, tvOS before 9.2.2, and watchOS before 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4607, CVE-2016-4608, CVE-2016-4610, and CVE-2016-4612.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary.

Affected products

  • Xmlsoft Libxslt: before 1.1.29
  • Apple Tvos: before 9.2.2
  • Apple Watchos: before 2.2.2
  • Apple Icloud: before 5.2.1
  • Apple Itunes: before 12.4.2
  • Apple Iphone OS: before 9.3.3
  • Apple Mac OS X: before 10.11.6
  • Fedoraproject: 30
  • Debian Linux: 8.0

References