HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-0718

CRITICAL

CVE-2016-0718

CWE-119Published: May 26, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Expat allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed input document, which triggers a buffer overflow.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-0718 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-119): Buffer overflow vulnerabilities can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service by corrupting adjacent memory.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorNetwork

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.None

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

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

Affected Vendors & Products

Apple1 product(s)

mac os x

Canonical1 product(s)

ubuntu linux

Debian1 product(s)

debian linux

libexpat_project1 product(s)

libexpat

mcafee1 product(s)

policy auditor

Mozilla1 product(s)

firefox

openSUSE2 product(s)

leapopensuse

Python1 product(s)

python

SUSE5 product(s)

linux enterprise debuginfostudio onsitelinux enterprise serverlinux enterprise software development kitlinux enterprise desktop

Source: NVD CPE · 19 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html

PATCHhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00000.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00064.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00006.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00010.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00004.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00029.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141350/ESET-Endpoint-Antivirus-6-Remote-Code-Execution.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2824.html

ADVISORYhttp://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/68

ADVISORYhttp://support.eset.com/ca6333/

ADVISORYhttp://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3582

ADVISORYhttp://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2016/mfsa2016-68.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/17/12

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90729

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036348

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036415

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037705

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2983-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3044-1

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2486

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1236923

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1296102

ADVISORYhttps://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10365

ADVISORYhttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-21

ADVISORYhttps://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-11-01.html

ADVISORYhttps://support.apple.com/HT206903

ADVISORYhttps://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-20

ADVISORYhttp://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00000.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00064.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00006.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00010.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00004.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00029.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141350/ESET-Endpoint-Antivirus-6-Remote-Code-Execution.html

ADVISORYhttp://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2824.html

ADVISORYhttp://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/68

ADVISORYhttp://support.eset.com/ca6333/

ADVISORYhttp://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3582

ADVISORYhttp://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2016/mfsa2016-68.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/17/12

ADVISORYhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90729

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036348

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036415

ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037705

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2983-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3044-1

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2486

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1236923

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1296102

ADVISORYhttps://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10365

ADVISORYhttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-21

ADVISORYhttps://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-11-01.html

ADVISORYhttps://support.apple.com/HT206903

ADVISORYhttps://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-20

All References (60)

→

http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Jul/msg00000.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00064.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00006.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00007.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00010.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00004.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00029.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/141350/ESET-Endpoint-Antivirus-6-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlThird Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2824.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/68Mailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://support.eset.com/ca6333/Third Party Advisory

→

http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3582Third Party Advisory

→

http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2016/mfsa2016-68.htmlThird Party Advisory

→

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/17/12Mailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.htmlPatch · Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2016-0718

CVSS Score9.8 / 10

SeverityCRITICAL

WeaknessCWE-119

CISA KEVNo

Affected9 vendor(s)

PublishedMay 26, 2016

Related CVEs (CWE-119)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2016-0718 in threat intel feeds
→Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts

Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

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