Google Chrome up to 55 PDFium use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.9$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Google Chrome up to 55. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component PDFium. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2016-5203. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Google Chrome up to 55 (Web Browser). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown function of the component PDFium. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A use after free 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 via a crafted PDF file.

The bug was discovered 12/01/2016. The weakness was published 01/19/2017 by Abdulrahman Alqabandi (xisigr) with Qihoo 360 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2016-5203 since 05/31/2016. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 05/14/2026). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product increasing in the near future.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 4 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 95546 (FreeBSD : chromium -- multiple vulnerabilities (603fe0a1-bb26-11e6-8e5a-3065ec8fd3ec)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family FreeBSD Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 276327 (Fedora Security Update for chromium (FEDORA-2016-a815b7bf5d)).

Upgrading to version 55.0.2883.75 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (95546) and SecurityFocus (BID 94633†). Similar entries are available at VDB-95481, VDB-95482, VDB-95483 and VDB-95484. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.9

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 8.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 95546
Nessus Name: FreeBSD : chromium -- multiple vulnerabilities (603fe0a1-bb26-11e6-8e5a-3065ec8fd3ec)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 900236
OpenVAS Name: SuSE Update for Chromium openSUSE-SU-2016:3108-1 (Chromium)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Chrome 55.0.2883.75

Timelineinfo

05/31/2016 🔍
12/01/2016 +184 days 🔍
12/01/2016 +0 days 🔍
12/05/2016 +4 days 🔍
12/06/2016 +1 days 🔍
01/19/2017 +44 days 🔍
01/19/2017 +0 days 🔍
01/19/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/14/2026 +3401 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: google.com
Product: google.com

Advisory: RHSA-2016:2919⛔
Researcher: Abdulrahman Alqabandi (xisigr)
Organization: Qihoo 360
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2016-5203 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-5203
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-95480

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 94633 - Google Chrome Prior to 55.0.2883.75 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
OSVDB: - CVE-2016-5203 - Google - Chrome - Use-After-Free Issue

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/19/2017 09:40
Updated: 05/14/2026 01:32
Changes: 01/19/2017 09:40 (77), 07/24/2020 14:31 (10), 11/01/2022 10:31 (3), 05/14/2026 01:32 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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