---
id: CVE-2016-4658
title: >-
  xpointer.c in libxml2 before 2.9.5 (as used in Apple iOS before 10, OS X
  before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3, and other products) does
  not forbid namespace nodes in XPointer ranges, which allows remote attackers
  to execute…
summary: >-
  xpointer.c in libxml2 before 2.9.5 (as used in Apple iOS before 10, OS X
  before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3, and other products) does
  not forbid namespace nodes in XPointer ranges, which allows remote attackers
  to execute…
severity: critical
cvss: 9.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-119
vendor: xmlsoft
product: libxml2
affected:
  - iphone_os < 10.0
  - mac_os_x < 10.12
  - tvos < 10.0
  - watchos < 3.0
  - libxml2 < 2.9.5
patched:
  - iphone_os 10.0
  - mac_os_x 10.12
  - tvos 10.0
  - watchos 3.0
  - libxml2 2.9.5
published: '2016-09-25'
updated: '2026-10-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-14T07:16:38.110'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4658'
references:
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00006.html'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00008.html'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00010.html'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00011.html'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93054'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036858'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038623'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=c1d1f7121194036608bf555f08d3062a36fd344b
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207141'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207142'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207143'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207170'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00006.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00008.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00010.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Sep/msg00011.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93054'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036858'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038623'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://git.gnome.org/browse/libxml2/commit/?id=c1d1f7121194036608bf555f08d3062a36fd344b
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207141'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207142'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207143'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/HT207170'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.08559
epssPercentile: 0.94966
ingestedAt: '2026-10-14T07:21:04.794Z'
---

## Overview

xpointer.c in libxml2 before 2.9.5 (as used in Apple iOS before 10, OS X before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3, and other products) does not forbid namespace nodes in XPointer ranges, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (use-after-free and memory corruption) via a crafted XML document.

## Affected

- `iphone_os < 10.0`
- `mac_os_x < 10.12`
- `tvos < 10.0`
- `watchos < 3.0`
- `libxml2 < 2.9.5`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `iphone_os 10.0`
- `mac_os_x 10.12`
- `tvos 10.0`
- `watchos 3.0`
- `libxml2 2.9.5`