CVE-2016-5199 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
An off by one error resulting in an allocation of zero size in FFmpeg in Google Chrome prior to 54.0.2840.98 for Mac, and 54.0.2840.99 for Windows, and 54.0.2840.100 for Linux, and 55.0.2883.84 for Android allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted video file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5199 represents a critical heap corruption issue within FFmpeg library components integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to specific patch releases. This flaw stems from an off-by-one error during memory allocation operations that results in zero-sized buffer allocations, creating exploitable conditions for remote attackers. The vulnerability affects multiple operating systems including macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android platforms, demonstrating the widespread impact of this memory management flaw within the Chrome ecosystem.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper bounds checking within FFmpeg's video processing routines, specifically when handling crafted video files. An off-by-one error occurs when a loop or calculation exceeds the intended boundary by one position, leading to incorrect memory allocation decisions. In this case, the error results in the allocation of zero-sized memory blocks, which creates undefined behavior and potential heap corruption conditions. When the application attempts to write to or read from these zero-sized allocations, it can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index values, and CWE-131, which covers incorrect calculation of buffer or block sizes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5199 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for remote code execution through carefully crafted video content. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by preparing malicious video files that trigger the flawed memory allocation logic when Chrome processes them, either through direct playback or even through automatic media processing in web pages. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that users need not interact with the malicious content directly, as simply loading a web page containing the crafted video file can trigger the exploit. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The zero-sized allocation creates a memory layout that allows attackers to manipulate heap metadata and potentially overwrite critical function pointers or return addresses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5199 primarily involve updating Chrome browsers to the patched versions mentioned in the vulnerability description, which contain fixes for the FFmpeg memory allocation logic. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to ensure all affected systems are updated. Additionally, browser security configurations can be enhanced through content security policies that restrict media processing capabilities, though this approach may impact legitimate functionality. Network-level defenses including web application firewalls and media content filtering can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper bounds checking in memory management operations and highlights the risks associated with complex multimedia processing libraries in browser environments. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns and heap corruption indicators that might suggest exploitation attempts, as these vulnerabilities often manifest through subtle memory manipulation patterns that can be detected through behavioral analysis rather than signature-based detection methods.