Google Chrome up to 55 PDFium use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.9$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Google Chrome up to 55. This affects an unknown function of the component PDFium. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2016-5211. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Google Chrome up to 55 (Web Browser). It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown functionality of the component PDFium. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect 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 presented 01/19/2017 by Abdulrahman Alqabandi (xisigr) with Qihoo 360 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2016-5211 since 05/31/2016. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful 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 370249 (Google Chrome Prior to 55.0.2883.75 Multiple Vulnerabilities).

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†). See VDB-95480, VDB-95481, VDB-95482 and VDB-95483 for similar entries. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

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Version

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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-2016-5211 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-5211
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-95488

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 94633 - Google Chrome Prior to 55.0.2883.75 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
OSVDB: - CVE-2016-5211 - Google - Chrome - Use-After-Free Issue

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/19/2017 09:42
Updated: 05/14/2026 01:32
Changes: 01/19/2017 09:42 (77), 07/24/2020 15:34 (10), 11/01/2022 11:51 (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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