CVE-2026-118354 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
Improper input validation in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.73 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside 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 the Skia graphics library, which is integrated into Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.73, represents a significant risk to browser security and user data integrity. This issue stems from insufficient checks on data inputs processed by the rendering engine before they are executed or rendered. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing specially constructed graphics commands or image data, the Skia library fails to properly validate these inputs against expected boundaries or formats. This lack of rigorous validation allows malformed data to bypass internal safety mechanisms that are designed to prevent memory corruption and unauthorized execution paths within the browser's sandboxed environment.
From a technical perspective, this flaw is classified under CWE-20 as Improper Input Validation. The core issue lies in the failure of the application to verify that user-supplied or externally sourced data conforms to expected constraints before processing it. In the context of Skia, which handles complex graphical operations such as drawing vectors, images, and text, improper validation can lead to buffer overflows, heap corruption, or type confusion errors. These memory safety violations are particularly dangerous because they occur within a high-privilege component relative to the rest of the browser's sandboxed processes. By exploiting this weakness, an attacker can manipulate the state of the application in ways that were not intended by the developers, effectively breaking out of the restrictive execution context provided by Chrome’s security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution. As noted with a High severity rating from Chromium, successful exploitation allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox. While modern browsers employ multiple layers of defense such as site isolation and hardware-based memory protection, breaking out of even one layer can provide an attacker with significant foothold capabilities. If the exploit chain is completed successfully, it could lead to full system compromise depending on how subsequent privilege escalation steps are handled by other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. This makes the vulnerability a critical target for drive-by attacks where users visit maliciously crafted web pages without any direct interaction beyond loading the page itself.
This type of attack vector aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and execution, specifically leveraging browser-based exploits to gain entry into an organization’s network or individual device. The use of a crafted HTML page indicates that this is likely part of a broader exploit kit strategy where social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns deliver the malicious payload. Once code execution is achieved within the sandbox, attackers may attempt further lateral movement or data exfiltration if additional vulnerabilities are present in adjacent processes or extensions.
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, immediate action must be taken to update Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.73 or later. This patch includes fixes for the input validation logic within Skia that prevent malformed data from triggering memory corruption issues. Organizations should enforce automated browser update policies across all endpoints to ensure users are protected against known exploits. Additionally, security teams should monitor network traffic for indicators of compromise associated with drive-by download attacks and consider implementing content security policies or sandboxing solutions that restrict the execution capabilities of web-based content. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can also help identify similar weaknesses in custom applications before they can be exploited by adversaries seeking to leverage browser vulnerabilities for unauthorized access.