CVE-2026-106223 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Uninitialized resource in GPU in Google Chrome on on Android prior to 155.0.8059.39 allowed a remote attacker to read memory outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as an uninitialized resource issue within the GPU subsystem of Google Chrome on Android represents a significant class of memory safety errors that can lead to unauthorized data exposure. This flaw, present in versions prior to 155.0.8059.39, stems from improper initialization of resources allocated for graphics processing operations. In complex software architectures like Chromium, the GPU process operates with elevated privileges relative to the renderer processes to facilitate efficient hardware acceleration and rendering tasks. When a resource is not properly initialized before being accessed or used in subsequent operations, it may retain stale data from previous allocations or contain undefined values that were never cleared by the system. This lack of sanitization creates a window where sensitive information residing in memory can be inadvertently exposed to lower-privilege contexts if the application logic fails to validate the state of these resources before use.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe due to its potential for sandbox escape, which is considered one of the most critical threats in modern web browser security models. The Chromium architecture relies on a multi-process design where each tab or site runs in an isolated renderer process with restricted permissions, commonly referred to as the sandbox. This isolation prevents malicious code executed within a webpage from accessing sensitive data such as cookies, local storage, or credentials belonging to other sites or the operating system itself. However, when an uninitialized resource allows for out-of-bounds memory reads, it can potentially bypass these restrictions. A remote attacker could craft a specific HTML page containing malicious JavaScript that triggers this GPU-related flaw during rendering operations. By exploiting the resulting memory leak, the attacker might read arbitrary memory locations outside the sandbox boundary, effectively breaking the isolation guarantees provided by the browser security model.
From a technical classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of an uninitialized variable or resource. The failure to initialize data structures before they are utilized leads to unpredictable behavior and potential information disclosure. Furthermore, in the context of attack techniques, this scenario maps closely to ATT&CK technique T1083, specifically the file and directory discovery aspect when used for reconnaissance within a compromised environment, although here it serves primarily as an initial vector for privilege escalation or data theft rather than post-exploitation enumeration. The severity is rated as medium by Chromium security standards because while it allows memory reading, successful exploitation typically requires precise timing and specific hardware conditions, making automated large-scale attacks more difficult compared to direct code execution vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, the ability to read sandboxed memory poses a substantial risk to user privacy and data integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating Google Chrome on Android devices to version 155.0.8059.39 or later, where the initialization logic has been corrected to ensure all GPU resources are properly zeroed out before use. For organizations deploying managed browsers, enforcing automatic update policies is essential to maintain a secure posture against such memory safety issues. Additionally, developers and security teams should prioritize static analysis tools that detect uninitialized variable usage in C++ codebases, which forms the core of Chromium's implementation. Runtime protection mechanisms such as Address Sanitizer (ASan) can also help identify these types of errors during development phases before they reach production builds. Users are advised to remain vigilant against phishing attempts or malicious websites designed to exploit browser vulnerabilities through crafted content that triggers complex rendering paths involving GPU acceleration features.