CVE-2016-5197 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The content view client in Google Chrome prior to 54.0.2840.85 for Android insufficiently validated intent URLs, which allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to start arbitrary activity on the system via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5197 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's content view client implementation on Android platforms. This issue stems from inadequate validation of intent URLs within the browser's architecture, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 54.0.2840.85, where the browser's intent handling mechanism failed to properly sanitize or verify the legitimacy of URL schemes that could trigger system-level activities.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of intent URLs, which are used to launch activities within the Android operating system. When a malicious HTML page is loaded in Chrome, it can craft intent URLs that bypass the normal security checks and directly invoke system components or applications. This occurs because the content view client does not adequately verify the source or destination of these intent requests, allowing an attacker who has already compromised the renderer process to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary system activities. The vulnerability essentially creates a pathway for privilege escalation from the browser's sandboxed environment to the broader Android system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe threat to Android users as it enables remote code execution and system compromise without requiring additional user interaction or elevated privileges. An attacker who has already gained access to the renderer process through another vulnerability can leverage this flaw to launch malicious activities, potentially including installing malware, accessing sensitive data, or modifying system configurations. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it difficult to detect and prevent. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how insufficient validation can lead to privilege escalation attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper intent handling in mobile browser environments and highlights the need for comprehensive security measures across all layers of the application stack. Organizations and users should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent potential exploitation. Security professionals should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious intent URL patterns and consider deploying additional security controls such as application whitelisting or mobile device management solutions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of system-level capabilities through browser-based attack vectors. This vulnerability also underscores the critical need for defense in depth strategies, as it shows how a single flaw in one component can enable access to broader system resources, emphasizing the importance of secure coding practices and thorough security testing in mobile browser implementations.