CVE-2016-5204 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Leaking of an SVG shadow tree leading to corruption of the DOM tree in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 55.0.2883.75 for Mac, Windows and Linux, and 55.0.2883.84 for Android allowed a remote attacker to inject arbitrary scripts or HTML (UXSS) via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2016-5204 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Blink rendering engine used by Google Chrome across multiple platforms. This issue stems from improper handling of SVG shadow trees during the document object model construction process, creating a pathway for remote code execution through maliciously crafted web pages. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 55.0.2883.75 on Mac, Windows, and Linux systems, as well as Android versions prior to 55.0.2883.84, making it a widespread concern across the Chrome ecosystem.
The technical flaw manifests when the browser processes SVG elements containing shadow trees, which are used to encapsulate and render complex graphical content. During the DOM tree construction phase, the rendering engine fails to properly sanitize or isolate the shadow tree elements, allowing malicious input to leak into the main document structure. This memory corruption vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the DOM tree in ways that were not intended by the browser's security model, creating opportunities for unauthorized script execution and content injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables a remote attacker to perform unauthorized cross-site scripting attacks without requiring user interaction or specific privileges. The exploit allows for the injection of arbitrary scripts and HTML content, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-119 weakness category, specifically related to improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially accessing sensitive information or performing actions on behalf of the user.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5204 primarily involve updating to the patched versions of Google Chrome where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved sanitization of SVG shadow trees and enhanced DOM tree construction validation. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of the security patches, particularly for environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation in browser rendering engines, as highlighted by industry standards and best practices for secure software development.