CVE-2026-113235 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Improper input validation in Passwords in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as an improper input validation flaw within the password handling mechanisms of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a significant breach in browser security boundaries. This specific defect allows for potential arbitrary code execution outside the confines of the sandbox, which is a critical isolation mechanism designed to limit the damage that can be done if an attacker successfully exploits another vulnerability or compromises a web page. The severity of this issue is classified as medium by Chromium standards, yet its implications are severe due to the bypass of security sandboxes, effectively granting attackers elevated privileges within the operating system context rather than restricting them to the browser's restricted environment.
The technical root cause lies in how Chrome processes and validates input data related to password fields during rendering or form submission operations. When a crafted HTML page is loaded by an unsuspecting user, it contains maliciously constructed inputs that exploit gaps in the validation logic. Instead of strictly enforcing expected formats, lengths, or character sets for password-related data structures, the browser fails to adequately sanitize these inputs before they are processed by internal components responsible for memory management and state handling. This lack of rigorous checks enables an attacker to manipulate internal pointers or buffer boundaries through carefully crafted payloads embedded in the HTML structure.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, where insufficient verification allows malicious data to influence program flow or memory layout. The exploitation vector typically involves social engineering tactics such as phishing emails containing links to specially designed web pages that trigger the vulnerability upon loading. Once triggered, the malformed input can lead to heap corruption or stack-based buffer overflows depending on the specific internal implementation details of the password manager module at the time of execution. These memory errors are precursors to arbitrary code execution, allowing the attacker to inject and run shellcode within the process space.
The operational impact is profound because it circumvents the sandboxing architecture that protects users from malicious websites. Sandboxing relies on strict separation between untrusted web content and trusted system resources. By executing code outside this sandbox, an attacker gains access to local files, clipboard data, installed extensions, and potentially other applications running on the user's machine. This escalation of privilege transforms a simple cross-site scripting or rendering issue into a full remote code execution vulnerability, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability for the end-user system.
In terms of industry frameworks, this incident maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques involving Initial Access via Spearphishing Link followed by Execution through Browser-based exploitation. It also relates to Defense Evasion tactics where attackers bypass sandboxing mechanisms to maintain persistence or escalate privileges without detection by standard endpoint security tools that rely on process isolation boundaries for threat assessment.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching of the browser software to version 156.0.8078.47 or later, which includes corrected input validation routines and enhanced boundary checks within the password handling subsystems. Organizations should enforce automatic update policies for all endpoints running Chrome to ensure timely application of security patches. Additionally, users can mitigate risk by employing browser extensions that block script execution on untrusted domains or using multi-factor authentication services that reduce the value of stolen credentials even if a compromise occurs. Security awareness training remains crucial as technical controls alone cannot prevent initial access via social engineering vectors designed to lure victims into visiting malicious sites containing crafted HTML payloads.