CVE-2020-16009: Google Chrome V8 type confusion leads to heap corruption

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 17 September 2026. Confidence: high.

high priorityIt is a remotely reachable memory-corruption flaw in a ubiquitous browser engine with confirmed KEV listing and public exploit references, though exploitation requires a victim to load a crafted page.

What it is

Google Chrome before 86.0.4240.183 contains an inappropriate implementation in the V8 JavaScript engine that allows heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. The flaw is classified as an out-of-bounds write and type confusion, and it affects Chrome plus Chromium-based products such as Edge and CEF-based applications. It matters because it is a remotely reachable memory-corruption bug in a widely deployed browser engine and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Impact

A remote attacker can corrupt heap memory in the renderer, which can lead to code execution or a sandbox escape depending on the exploit chain. Successful exploitation gives the attacker control over the affected browser process and potentially the underlying host.

Attack surface

The vulnerability is reached over the network when a victim loads a crafted HTML page, so user interaction (visiting or being redirected to the page) is required. No authentication or privileges are needed on the target, consistent with the CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R.

Exploitation

CVE-2020-16009 is listed in CISA KEV with a due date of 2022-05-03, and public exploit references exist (Packet Storm and the Chromium issue tracker). EPSS gives a 30-day exploitation probability of roughly 48 percent, placing it near the 98.8th percentile.

What to do

• Update Chrome to 86.0.4240.183 or later, and apply the corresponding Chromium, Edge, CEF, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE and Gentoo updates.
• Track the vendor advisories referenced in the record and confirm all Chromium-embedded applications (for example CEF-based clients) are rebuilt against a patched engine.
• Enforce browser auto-update and block or restrict use of unpatched or end-of-life browser builds on managed endpoints.
• Reduce exposure by isolating browsing in a sandbox or remote browsing service and restricting access to untrusted HTML where feasible.

Detection

• Monitor for Chrome or Chromium renderer crashes, especially repeated crashes tied to the same page or origin, which can indicate exploitation attempts.
• Hunt proxy, DNS and browser telemetry for requests to known exploit-hosting or malformed HTML delivery infrastructure around the time of renderer crashes.
• Alert on unexpected child processes, shell execution or file writes originating from browser processes, which may indicate post-exploitation activity.
• Check asset inventories and vulnerability scans for Chrome, Edge, CEF-based applications and Linux distribution packages below the fixed versions.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.