The overflow protection in Expat is removed by compilers with certain optimization…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The overflow protection in Expat is removed by compilers with certain optimization settings, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted XML data. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2015-1283 and CVE-2015-2716.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:libexpat_project:libexpat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.1.1 | Vulnerable | libexpat project |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:policy_auditor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 6.5.1 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.7.0 to before 2.7.15; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.7; 3.4.0 to before 3.4.7; 3.5.0 to before 3.5.4; 3.6.0 to before 3.6.2 | Vulnerable | python-pillow |
- cpe:2.3:a:libexpat_project:libexpat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.1.1 Vulnerable ·libexpat project
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:policy_auditor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 6.5.1 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.7.0 to before 2.7.15; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.7; 3.4.0 to before 3.4.7; 3.5.0 to before 3.5.4; 3.6.0 to before 3.6.2 Vulnerable ·python-pillow
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Directory Server 8 | Affected | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
Not affected: 7 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat JBoss Core Services
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 2
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 3
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-4472
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-855w-qg6f-ffh7
- 2026-10-08 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Sources
- CVE-2016-4472 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-4472 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-855w-qg6f-ffh7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-4472 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences