How severe is CVE-2016-1688?

CVE-2016-1688 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-1688 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-1688?

CVE-2016-1688 primarily affects Google Chrome. In total, 12 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-1688?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2016-1688 published?

CVE-2016-1688 was published on 2016-06-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-1688

CVE-2016-1688 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Google Chrome with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (79th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-119
Affected product: Google Chrome
Published: 2016-06-05
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The regexp (aka regular expression) implementation in Google V8 before 5.0.71.40, as used in Google Chrome before 51.0.2704.63, mishandles external string sizes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via crafted JavaScript code.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-1688?: The regexp (aka regular expression) implementation in Google V8 before 5.0.71.40, as used in Google Chrome before 51.0.2704.63, mishandles external string sizes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via crafted JavaScript code.
How severe is CVE-2016-1688?: CVE-2016-1688 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-1688 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-1688?: CVE-2016-1688 primarily affects Google Chrome. In total, 12 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-1688?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2016-1688 published?: CVE-2016-1688 was published on 2016-06-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (12)

cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:google:chrome:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:google:v8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Google Chrome

CVE-2026-13782 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.47 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the…
CVE-2015-8548 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Google V8 before 4.7.80.23, as used in Google Chrome before 47.0.2526.80, allow…
CVE-2015-6791 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Google Chrome before 47.0.2526.80 allow attackers to cause a denial of service…
CVE-2015-6788 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The ObjectBackedNativeHandler class in extensions/renderer/object_backed_native_handler.cc in the extensions subsystem…
CVE-2015-8480 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The VideoFramePool::PoolImpl::CreateFrame function in media/base/video_frame_pool.cc in Google Chrome before…
CVE-2015-6787 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Google Chrome before 47.0.2526.73 allow attackers to cause a denial of service…

All CVEs affecting Google Chrome →

Other CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-2778 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to incorrect boundary conditions in the DOM: Core & HTML component. This vulnerability was fixed in…
CVE-2026-2776 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to incorrect boundary conditions in the Telemetry component in External Software. This vulnerability…
CVE-2025-1866 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in warmcat libwebsockets allows…
CVE-2022-27625 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
CVE-2022-27624 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
CVE-2020-11896 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Treck TCP/IP stack before 6.0.1.66 allows Remote Code Execution, related to IPv4 tunneling.

Browse all CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities →