CVE-2026-106316 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
UI misrepresentation in Chromoting in Google Chrome on on Mac prior to 155.0.8059.39 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to spoof UI elements via crafted network traffic. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as a user interface misrepresentation flaw within the Google Chrome Chromoting component on macOS systems prior to version 155.0.8059.39 represents a significant risk related to trust and identity verification in remote access scenarios. This issue stems from an inability of the application to correctly render or validate visual elements when receiving data over network connections, specifically within the context of Chrome Remote Desktop functionality. The core technical flaw lies in how the client-side interface processes incoming stream data for display purposes. When a remote session is established, the local machine receives video and input streams that dictate what is shown on the screen. In this specific instance, crafted network traffic can manipulate these rendering parameters to overlay or replace legitimate UI elements with deceptive ones. This manipulation does not necessarily involve breaking encryption or bypassing authentication protocols directly but rather exploits the visual layer of the application to create a false sense of security or legitimacy for the end user.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated social engineering attacks where a remote attacker can spoof critical interface components such as warning dialogs, permission prompts, or status indicators. For example, an attacker controlling a remote session could display a fake system alert claiming that malware has been detected and urging the user to click a button to remove it, while in reality, clicking that button might execute malicious code on the local machine. Alternatively, the attacker could hide genuine security warnings about unauthorized access or data exfiltration attempts by overlaying benign-looking graphics over them. This effectively blinds the user to the true nature of the remote session's activities, allowing for potential credential theft, installation of persistent backdoors, or extraction of sensitive information without the victim realizing they are interacting with a compromised environment. The severity is classified as low within the Chromium security framework because it requires active user interaction and social engineering success rather than offering automatic code execution upon mere connection establishment, yet its impact on human-centric trust models remains high.
This type of vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration categories such as CWE-209 which describes the generation of an error message that includes sensitive information useful for attackers, although in this case it is more accurately mapped to CWE-831 regarding signal handler errors leading to race conditions or state manipulation if we consider the UI state management. More broadly, it falls under the umbrella of user interface deception and trust boundary violations where the application fails to maintain a secure channel between its internal logic and its external presentation layer. In terms of MITRE ATT&CK framework mapping, this behavior is consistent with techniques found in T1078 Valid Accounts if combined with credential theft via spoofed prompts, or more directly with T1566 Phishing where the attack vector relies on tricking users into taking action based on misleading information presented through a trusted application interface. The specific mechanism of using crafted network traffic to alter UI rendering suggests a failure in input validation and output encoding within the Chromoting module's graphics pipeline.
Mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate attention from system administrators and end-users operating Chrome Remote Desktop or related chromoting services on macOS platforms. The primary defense is to apply the official patch provided by Google in version 155.0.8059.39 or later, which addresses the rendering logic flaws that allow UI spoofing. Organizations should enforce strict update policies for all endpoints running Chrome Remote Desktop to ensure they are not susceptible to this specific attack vector. Additionally, security awareness training is crucial; users must be educated to verify the source of remote sessions and to look for subtle inconsistencies in interface design or behavior when interacting with remote desktops. Implementing multi-factor authentication for access to critical systems can also mitigate some downstream risks even if UI spoofing occurs, as it adds a layer of verification that cannot be easily faked through visual deception alone. Monitoring network traffic for anomalies related to Chromoting connections may provide early detection indicators but is less effective than patch management given the client-side nature of this flaw.