CVE-2016-5223 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in PDFium 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 potentially exploit heap corruption or DoS via a crafted PDF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5223 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the PDFium library component of Google Chrome browsers across multiple platforms. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 55.0.2883.75 on Mac, Windows, and Linux systems, as well as version 55.0.2883.84 for Android devices. The flaw resides in how PDFium processes certain integer values during PDF file parsing operations, creating conditions where maliciously crafted PDF documents can trigger unexpected behavior in the browser's memory management systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the PDF rendering engine. When processing specific PDF elements containing oversized or malformed numeric values, the integer overflow condition allows attackers to manipulate memory allocation calculations. This occurs because the system fails to properly validate integer inputs before performing arithmetic operations that determine buffer sizes or memory allocation amounts. The overflow can result in calculations that produce values significantly smaller than expected, leading to insufficient memory allocation for subsequent operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution through heap corruption. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened in affected Chrome versions, cause the browser to allocate insufficient memory for processing certain PDF objects. This memory corruption can then be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process. The vulnerability affects all supported platforms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across different operating environments without requiring platform-specific modifications.
The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious document delivery scenarios. The integer overflow condition creates a predictable pattern of memory corruption that can be systematically exploited by attackers. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation in parsing libraries can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an attacker perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities through crafted input files, and T1059, which encompasses command and control through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to the patched releases mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated patch management systems to ensure all endpoints receive security updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing PDF file filtering at network boundaries, using sandboxed browsing environments for PDF processing, and monitoring for suspicious PDF file activity. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in parsing libraries and the critical need for regular security assessments of third-party components used in browser implementations.