Google Chrome up to 55 Extensions API PDF Document URL input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.3$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Google Chrome up to 55. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component Extensions API. The manipulation as part of PDF Document leads to input validation (URL). This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2016-5218. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Google Chrome up to 55 (Web Browser) and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown functionality of the component Extensions API. The manipulation as part of a PDF Document leads to a input validation vulnerability (URL). Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is confidentiality, and integrity. The summary by CVE is:

The extensions API in Google Chrome prior to 55.0.2883.75 for Mac, Windows and Linux, and 55.0.2883.84 for Android incorrectly handled navigation within PDFs, which allowed a remote attacker to temporarily spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted HTML page containing PDF data.

The bug was discovered 12/01/2016. The weakness was published 01/19/2017 by Abdulrahman Alqabandi (xisigr) with Qihoo 360 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at securityfocus.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2016-5218 since 05/31/2016. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (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†). Similar entries are available at VDB-95480, VDB-95481, VDB-95482 and VDB-95483. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 6.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Name: URL
Class: Input validation / URL
CWE: CWE-20
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 +3402 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: google.com
Product: google.com

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

CVE: CVE-2016-5218 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-5218
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-95495

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 94633 - Google Chrome Prior to 55.0.2883.75 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
OSVDB: - CVE-2016-5218 - Google - Chrome - Spoofing Issue

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/19/2017 09:42
Updated: 05/14/2026 03:03
Changes: 01/19/2017 09:42 (78), 07/24/2020 16:17 (10), 11/01/2022 13:10 (4), 05/14/2026 03:03 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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