CVE-2026-102301 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
Out of bounds write in GPU in Google Chrome prior to 154.0.8037.92 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as an out-of-bounds write within the GPU subsystem of Google Chrome prior to version 154.0.8037.92 represents a critical memory safety failure that undermines the browser's core isolation mechanisms. This flaw resides in the graphics processing unit component, which is responsible for handling hardware-accelerated rendering tasks such as WebGL and video decoding. While modern browsers employ strict sandboxing to confine renderer processes, ensuring they cannot access sensitive system resources or other process memories, this specific vulnerability allows a compromised renderer to bypass those restrictions through improper memory management during GPU command execution. The severity of the issue is classified as High by Chromium security standards due to its potential for arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges relative to the sandboxed environment.
The technical nature of the flaw involves an out-of-bounds write operation, which corresponds directly to CWE-787 in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers without proper bounds checking. In the context of Chrome's GPU implementation, this likely stems from insufficient validation of input parameters or buffer sizes during the processing of graphics commands issued by web content. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that triggers specific rendering paths within the browser engine, they can manipulate these inputs to cause the GPU driver or software renderer to write data into memory locations outside its designated allocation. This corruption of adjacent memory structures can lead to control flow hijacking if the overwritten memory contains function pointers, return addresses, or other critical execution metadata used by the sandboxed process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it facilitates privilege escalation from a low-privilege renderer context to arbitrary code execution outside the sandbox. Typically, an attacker exploiting a renderer-side vulnerability would be limited in their ability to interact with the host operating system due to Chrome's multi-process architecture and strict security boundaries. However, by leveraging this out-of-bounds write, a remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process through another vector or via social engineering can execute code that operates outside these protective layers. This effectively neutralizes one of the most important defenses against drive-by download attacks and malicious web content exploitation, allowing for potential full system compromise depending on the user's privileges and installed software configurations.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 154.0.8037.92 or later, where this memory safety issue has been resolved through improved input validation and bounds checking within the GPU subsystem. For organizations unable to immediately patch all endpoints, network-level controls such as web filtering proxies can help block access to known malicious domains hosting exploit kits that target browser vulnerabilities. Additionally, enabling Chrome's Site Isolation feature ensures that sensitive content is rendered in separate processes with distinct memory spaces, reducing the blast radius of any single renderer compromise. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of exploitation related to GPU-related crashes or unusual network activity originating from browser processes, as these may signal attempts to leverage this vulnerability before patches are applied.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, specifically within the context of web browsers and GPU acceleration features. Attackers often utilize such flaws in conjunction with other techniques like Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027) to evade detection by security software that might otherwise flag suspicious script behavior. The reliance on hardware-accelerated rendering means that this vulnerability is particularly relevant for users who enable WebGL, 3D CSS transforms, and video acceleration features, making it a high-value target in advanced persistent threat campaigns aiming at enterprise environments where GPU resources are heavily utilized for productivity applications.