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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-2099

🗓️ 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 4 Views

Linux/Unix host has a critical unpatched vulnerability: CVE-2016-2099 in Apache Xerces.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
ArchLinux
xerces-c: arbitrary code execution
25 Jun 201600:00
archlinux
FreeBSD
xercesi-c3 -- multiple vulnerabilities
9 May 201600:00
freebsd
CNVD
Xerces DTDScanner Memory Misreference Vulnerability
10 May 201600:00
cnvd
CVE
CVE-2016-2099
13 May 201614:00
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2016-2099
13 May 201614:00
cvelist
Debian
[SECURITY] [DLA 467-1] xerces-c security update
12 May 201611:59
debian
Debian
[SECURITY] [DSA 3579-1] xerces-c security update
16 May 201607:01
debian
Debian
[SECURITY] [DSA 3579-1] xerces-c security update
16 May 201607:01
debian
Debian CVE
CVE-2016-2099
13 May 201614:00
debiancve
Tenable Nessus
Debian DLA-467-1 : xerces-c security update
13 May 201600:00
nessus
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(219367);
  script_version("1.5");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2025/09/29");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-2099");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-2099");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - Use-after-free vulnerability in validators/DTD/DTDScanner.cpp in Apache Xerces C++ 3.1.3 and earlier
    allows context-dependent attackers to have unspecified impact via an invalid character in an XML document.
    (CVE-2016-2099)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2016-2099");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-2099");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/05/09");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/03/04");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:centos:centos:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:xerces-c");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:xerces-c-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:centos:centos:xerces-c-doc");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:xerces-c");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:xerces-c-devel");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:xerces-c-doc");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("set_linux_os_id.nasl", "ssh_get_info2.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/OS/identifier", "Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/CentOS Linux-7", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/CentOS/rpm-list")) && empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "CentOS Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "xerces-c"},
          {"reference": "xerces-c-devel"},
          {"reference": "xerces-c-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "6",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "xerces-c"},
          {"reference": "xerces-c-devel"},
          {"reference": "xerces-c-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-7": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "7",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "xerces-c"},
          {"reference": "xerces-c-devel"},
          {"reference": "xerces-c-doc"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_HOLE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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29 Sep 2025 00:00Current
8.2High risk
Vulners AI Score8.2
CVSS 39.8
CVSS 210
EPSS0.02173
4