CVE-2026-121037 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2026
Out of bounds write in ANGLE in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 157.0.8103.38 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as an out-of-bounds write within the ANGLE graphics library in Google Chrome represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's primary defense mechanism, the sandbox. This issue specifically affects versions of Chromium prior to build 157.0.8103.38 on Windows systems and is classified with high severity due to its potential for remote code execution. The ANGLE library serves as a critical translation layer between web applications using WebGL or OpenGL ES APIs and the underlying native graphics drivers, making it a frequent target for exploitation attempts aimed at escaping browser isolation boundaries.
At the technical level, an out-of-bounds write occurs when a program writes data to a memory location outside the bounds of the intended buffer. In this specific instance, improper validation of input parameters within the ANGLE implementation allowed crafted HTML content to trigger a write operation that exceeded allocated memory limits. This type of flaw is categorized under CWE-787, which denotes out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The lack of rigorous boundary checks enabled an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory structures, potentially corrupting critical data such as function pointers or object headers within the browser process space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it facilitates a sandbox escape. Modern browsers rely heavily on sandboxes to restrict the privileges of web content, ensuring that even if malicious code executes, its ability to interact with the host operating system remains limited. By exploiting an out-of-bounds write in ANGLE, a remote attacker could manipulate memory structures to achieve arbitrary code execution outside this restricted environment. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for client-side execution, and specifically relates to techniques used to bypass application sandboxing such as those described under privilege escalation vectors that leverage graphics driver vulnerabilities or browser engine flaws.
The attack vector is remote, meaning the vulnerability can be triggered without any user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted webpage. This significantly increases the risk profile compared to local-only exploits. An attacker could host this HTML page on a compromised website or embed it in phishing content, relying on social engineering or drive-by download tactics to induce users to load the payload. Once loaded, the browser processes the malformed graphics commands, triggering the memory corruption that leads to code execution with the privileges of the user running the browser application.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate software updates. Administrators and end-users must upgrade Google Chrome to version 157.0.8103.38 or later, where this specific boundary check issue has been resolved by developers implementing stricter validation logic within the ANGLE translation layer. Additionally, defense-in-depth measures such as enabling site isolation features in Chromium-based browsers can help limit the blast radius of any successful exploitation attempt. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual memory access patterns or unexpected network connections originating from browser processes, which may signal active exploitation attempts targeting this class of vulnerabilities.