diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 2f1f7d16..656004ab 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ not datatype, data format, or JAX-RS provider modules.
     <!-- 22-Sep-2020, tatu: 7.3.1 -> 9.0 for Jackson 2.12 -->
     <!-- 02-Oct-2022, tatu: 9.0 -> 9.4 for Jackson 2.14 -->
     <!-- 20-May-2023, tatu: 9.4 -> 9.5 for Jackson 2.15.2 -->
-    <version.asm>9.5</version.asm>
+    <!-- 02-Oct-2023, tatu: 9.5 -> 9.6 for Jackson 2.16 -->
+    <version.asm>9.6</version.asm>
   </properties>
 
   <dependencyManagement>
diff --git a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
index f3f90a14..83a92b4b 100644
--- a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
+++ b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Active maintainers:
  (fix by Steven S)
 #216: (blackbird, afterburner): Disable in native-image
  (fix by Steven S)
+- Update `asm` version 9.5 -> 9.6
 
 #209: Add guice7 (jakarta.inject) module
  (contributed by Joe B)