CVE-2016-5196 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The content renderer client in Google Chrome prior to 54.0.2840.85 for Android insufficiently enforced the Same Origin Policy amongst downloaded files, which allowed a remote attacker to access any downloaded file and interact with sites, including those the user was logged into, via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5196 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's content renderer client for Android versions prior to 54.0.2840.85. This issue stems from an insufficient enforcement of the Same Origin Policy mechanism that governs how web content interacts with downloaded files. The Same Origin Policy serves as a fundamental security principle in web browsers that restricts how documents or scripts loaded from one origin can interact with resources from another origin, thereby preventing unauthorized cross-origin data access and potential exploitation of user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows a remote attacker to bypass the intended security boundaries that should prevent downloaded files from being accessed by malicious web pages. When a user downloads a file through Chrome on Android, the browser should enforce strict isolation between the downloaded content and the web environment to prevent unauthorized access. However, this flaw enabled attackers to craft malicious HTML pages that could access any downloaded file on the device, regardless of the file's origin or the user's authentication status with various websites. The vulnerability specifically affects the content renderer component responsible for processing and displaying web content, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the browser's file access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to access sensitive user data and potentially hijack active sessions with web applications. An attacker could craft a malicious webpage that, when loaded, would gain access to downloaded files including documents, images, or other content stored on the user's device. This capability extends beyond simple file access to include interaction with websites where the user might be logged in, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to personal accounts. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it an effective vector for drive-by downloads and social engineering campaigns.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001, "Input Injection: Data Injection," as it represents a failure in input validation and access control that allows unauthorized data access. The flaw also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1071.004, "Application Layer Protocol: DNS," since it can be exploited through web-based attack vectors that leverage the browser's handling of downloaded content. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability in their security posture assessments, particularly when evaluating mobile browser security and the risks associated with downloading content from untrusted sources.
The recommended mitigations include immediate updating of Chrome to version 54.0.2840.85 or later, which contains the necessary patches to enforce proper Same Origin Policy enforcement for downloaded files. Users should also maintain awareness of the risks associated with downloading files from untrusted sources and implement additional security measures such as using secure browsing practices and regularly updating their mobile operating systems and applications. Security administrators should monitor for indicators of compromise related to malicious web pages that might exploit this vulnerability and consider implementing network-based protections to detect and block known malicious domains.