CVE-2016-4448

CVE-2016-4448 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-134.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
• CVSS v2: 10.0
• EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (93rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-134
• Affected product: Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop
• Published: 2016-06-09
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Format string vulnerability in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via format string specifiers in unknown vectors.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-4448?

Format string vulnerability in libxml2 before 2.9.4 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via format string specifiers in unknown vectors.

How severe is CVE-2016-4448?

CVE-2016-4448 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-4448 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-4448?

CVE-2016-4448 primarily affects Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop. In total, 37 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-4448?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-4448 published?

CVE-2016-4448 was published on 2016-06-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00000.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00001.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00002.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00003.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00005.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.html
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/25/2
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90856
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036348
• http://www.slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2016&m=slackware-security.404722
• http://xmlsoft.org/news.html
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1292
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1338700
• https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=4472c3a5a5b516aaf59b89be602fbce52756c3e9
• https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=502f6a6d08b08c04b3ddfb1cd21b2f699c1b7f5b
• https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05194709
• https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10170
• https://support.apple.com/HT206899
• https://support.apple.com/HT206901
• https://support.apple.com/HT206902
• https://support.apple.com/HT206903
• https://support.apple.com/HT206904
• https://support.apple.com/HT206905
• https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18

Affected products (37)

• cpe:2.3:a:hp:icewall_federation_agent:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:icloud:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:itunes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:slackware:slackware_linux:14.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:slackware:slackware_linux:14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:oracle:vm_server:3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:oracle:vm_server:3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tenable:log_correlation_engine:4.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:web_gateway:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:0:*:*:*:*:*:*

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