CVE-2020-16017
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitUse after free in site isolation in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.198 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page.
Published Mar 16, 2021 · Updated Aug 5, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2020-16017, GHSA-gvqv-779r-4jgp, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-16017
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2020-16017 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.6 v3.1) affecting Chrome (Google), chromium (arch), chromium-browser (ubuntu) and 8 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 7, 2020. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 2.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including CefSharp.Common 86.0.241, CefSharp.WinForms 86.0.241, CefSharp.Wpf 86.0.241.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
9.6
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
2.7%
Higher than 85.8% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2020-16017 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
Use after free in site isolation in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.198 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Nov 3, 2021 | May 3, 2022 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Nov 7, 2020 | May 3, 2022 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Nov 3, 2021 | May 3, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Nov 3, 2021 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
35 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ChromeGoogle | >= unspecified | 86.0.4240.198 |
| chromiumarch | See advisory | 86.0.4240.198-1 |
| chromium-browserubuntu | See advisory | 86.0.4240.198-0ubuntu0.16.04.1 |
| CefSharp.Commonnuget | See advisory | 86.0.241 |
| CefSharp.WinFormsnuget | See advisory | 86.0.241 |
Patched Releases
CefSharp.Common
86.0.241
CefSharp.WinForms
86.0.241
CefSharp.Wpf
86.0.241
CefSharp.Wpf.HwndHost
86.0.241
Chrome
86.0.4240.198
chromedriver
86.0.4240.198-bp151.3.128.1, 86.0.4240.198-bp151.3.134.1, 86.0.4240.198-bp152.2.29.1, 86.0.4240.198-bp152.2.35.1, 93.0.4577.82-1.1
chromium
86.0.4240.198-1, 86.0.4240.198-bp151.3.128.1, 86.0.4240.198-bp151.3.134.1, 86.0.4240.198-bp152.2.29.1, 86.0.4240.198-bp152.2.35.1, 87.0.4280.88-0.1, 87.0.4280.88-0.4~deb10u1, 93.0.4577.82-1.1
chromium-browser
0:86.0.4240.198-1.el6_10, 86.0.4240.198-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 86.0.4240.198-0ubuntu0.18.04.1
opera
72.0.3815.400-lp152.2.24.1
ungoogled-chromium
113.0.5672.92-1.1
ungoogled-chromium-chromedriver
113.0.5672.92-1.1
Timeline
Added to Industry KEV feed
Nov 7, 2020
Publicly disclosed
Mar 16, 2021
Added to CISA KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to CIRCL KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to ENISA EUVD
Nov 3, 2021
Last updated
Aug 5, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-416 Use After Free
References
- advisoryRHSA-2020:5165
- advisoryhttps://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2021/03/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_12.html
- advisoryhttps://gbhackers.com/google-zero-day-vulnerability/
- advisoryGHSA advisory
- advisoryhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16017
FAQ
Common Questions.
Use after free in site isolation in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.198 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page.
Affected: Chrome (Google) versions >= unspecified; chromium (arch); chromium-browser (ubuntu), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 7, 2020.
Yes. It was added on Nov 3, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of May 3, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including CefSharp.Common 86.0.241, CefSharp.WinForms 86.0.241, CefSharp.Wpf 86.0.241.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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