CVE-2026-118310 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
Improper input validation in Views in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 156.0.8078.73 allowed a remote attacker 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 • 10/28/2026
The vulnerability identified as an improper input validation flaw within Google Chrome's Views component represents a critical failure in boundary checking and data sanitization mechanisms. This specific defect, present in versions of Chromium prior to 156.0.8078.73 on Windows systems, allows for the exploitation of memory safety issues that are typically mitigated by the browser's sandboxing architecture. The Views component is responsible for handling user interface elements and rendering logic within the Chrome environment. When processing input data associated with these UI components, the software failed to adequately validate the structure or content of incoming information, specifically when rendered via a crafted HTML page. This lack of rigorous validation creates an opening for attackers to manipulate internal state variables or memory structures in unintended ways.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns closely with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and often manifests as CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. The core issue lies in the failure to enforce strict constraints on data types, lengths, or formats before they are processed by the rendering engine. By constructing an HTML page with specially crafted elements that trigger specific code paths within the Views module, an attacker can cause the browser to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries or execute instructions at arbitrary memory addresses. Because this occurs during the parsing and rendering of web content, it is triggered automatically when a user visits the malicious site, requiring no additional interaction such as clicking buttons or downloading files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution outside the sandbox. Modern browsers rely heavily on process isolation and sandboxing to limit the damage caused by successful exploits. By escaping these restrictions, an attacker gains a level of system access equivalent to that of the current user running the browser. This can lead to full system compromise, including the installation of malware, theft of sensitive data such as credentials or financial information, and the use of the compromised machine for further attacks against other networked systems. The severity rating of High from Chromium security reflects this significant risk profile, particularly given that it affects a widely used platform like Windows with no user interaction required beyond visiting the malicious webpage.
This vulnerability is also relevant to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and execution. Specifically, it maps to T1189 Drive-by Compromise, where attackers exploit vulnerabilities in software to gain entry without direct contact from the victim. The exploitation chain typically involves hosting a malicious HTML file on a server, which may be delivered through phishing emails or compromised legitimate websites. Once executed, the code operates with elevated privileges relative to the sandboxed browser process, allowing it to interact directly with the operating system kernel and other applications.
Mitigation strategies primarily focus on immediate software updates and defensive configurations. The most effective remediation is to upgrade Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.73 or later, where these input validation checks have been corrected by the Chromium development team. Organizations should ensure that automatic update mechanisms are enabled for all endpoints running Windows to minimize the window of exposure. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting and restricting script execution in untrusted zones can provide an additional layer of defense against drive-by attacks. Security teams should also monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections from browser processes, which may indicate successful exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management cycles are essential to maintain resilience against such high-severity flaws that target core components of popular web browsers.