# CVE-2016-5219: Google Chrome V8 use after free in heap

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-5219-google-chrome-v8-use-after-free-in-heap  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2017-01-19. Updated: 2026-05-13  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-5219 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.3 · Published 2017-01-19

Google Chrome is a widely used web browser. A security flaw was found in its V8 engine, which handles JavaScript. An attacker could exploit this by tricking a user into visiting a specially crafted website, potentially leading to browser crashes or unauthorized access to information.

Technologies: [Google Chrome](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/chrome), [Google Chromium](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/chromium). Vendors: [Google](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/google).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-5219 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2016-5219 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2016-5219?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.3, published 19 January 2017.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Google Chromium < 55.0.2883.75.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-5219?** A patch was published on 2016-12-01: Chrome 55.0.2883.75 released for desktop Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2016-5219 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-5219?** Check whether you run Google Chrome or Google Chromium at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability exists in the V8 JavaScript engine within Google Chrome. The flaw is triggered when the engine incorrectly manages memory objects, allowing a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption. By persuading a user to visit a malicious HTML page, an attacker can trigger the UAF condition. This can lead to a denial-of-service (browser crash) or potentially arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser's sandbox. The issue was resolved in Chrome version 55.0.2883.75 for desktop and 55.0.2883.84 for Android.

## Affected products

- Google Chrome < 55.0.2883.75 (Desktop); < 55.0.2883.84 (Android)
- Google Chromium < 55.0.2883.75

## Timeline

- 2016-12-01: patched: Chrome 55.0.2883.75 released for desktop
- 2016-12-05: advisory: Gentoo GLSA 201612-11 published
- 2016-12-07: advisory: Red Hat RHSA-2016:2919 published
- 2017-01-19: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2919.html](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2919.html)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94633](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94633)
- [https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2016/12/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html](https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2016/12/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html)
- [https://crbug.com/657568](https://crbug.com/657568)
- [https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-11](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-11)

## Related threats

- [Google Chrome out of bounds read in Skia](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126922-out-of-bounds-read-in-skia-in-google-chrome-prior-to-157-0-8103)
- [Google Chrome use after free in Accessibility](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126921-use-after-free-in-accessibility-in-google-chrome-prior-to-157-0)
- [Google Chrome information leak in Skia](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126920-information-leak-in-skia-in-google-chrome-prior-to-157-0-8103-78)
- [Google Chrome use-after-free in BrowserTag](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126919-use-after-free-in-browsertag-in-google-chrome-prior-to-157-0)
- [Google Chrome use-after-free in Layout](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126918-use-after-free-in-layout-in-google-chrome-prior-to-157-0-8103-78)