The XML parser in Expat does not use sufficient entropy for hash initialization, which…
Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-399Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-399 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The XML parser in Expat does not use sufficient entropy for hash initialization, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via crafted identifiers in an XML document. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-0876.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.06539 93rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
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 · 11
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:a:libexpat_project:libexpat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.2.0 | Vulnerable | libexpat project |
| cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.4.4 | Vulnerable | |
| cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0.2 | Vulnerable | |
| cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.1.1 | Vulnerable | |
| cpe:2.3:o:google:android:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable |
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:a:libexpat_project:libexpat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.2.0 Vulnerable ·libexpat project
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:4.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.4.4 Vulnerable ·Google
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0.2 Vulnerable ·Google
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:5.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.1.1 Vulnerable ·Google
- cpe:2.3:o:google:android:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Google
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 planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 2 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 3 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat JBoss Core Services
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-5300
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-59r7-7hc4-v4rf
References
Advisory 6
Other 5
- [oss-security] 20160604 Re: expat hash collision fix too predictable?
- [oss-security] 20160604 Re: expat hash collision fix too predictable?
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210628 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210629 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10365
Sources
- CVE-2016-5300 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-5300 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-59r7-7hc4-v4rf · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-5300 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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