CVE-2026-121041 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2026
Missing authorization in Input in Google Chrome prior to 157.0.8103.38 allowed a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as missing authorization within the input handling mechanisms of Google Chrome versions prior to 157.0.8103.38 represents a critical flaw in access control logic, specifically categorized under CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management or more precisely CWE-862 Missing Authorization. This defect allows an attacker who can induce a victim user to load a maliciously crafted HTML page to bypass intended security restrictions and retrieve sensitive information that should remain inaccessible. The core technical flaw lies in the browser's failure to properly validate whether the requesting context, typically originating from a third-party or untrusted origin, possesses the necessary permissions to access specific internal APIs, DOM elements, or data structures associated with privileged operations. When such authorization checks are omitted or incorrectly implemented within the input processing pipeline, the application proceeds to execute actions or expose data without verifying the identity and privileges of the caller, thereby violating the principle of least privilege fundamental to secure software architecture.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables a remote attacker to conduct information disclosure attacks by leveraging social engineering techniques to trick users into visiting malicious web pages. Once loaded, these crafted HTML files can exploit the missing authorization check to extract sensitive data such as cookies, local storage contents, or internal browser state that is not meant for public consumption. The severity of this issue is classified as Low within the Chromium security framework because it generally requires user interaction and does not typically lead to full system compromise or remote code execution on its own. However, in conjunction with other vulnerabilities or when targeting high-value targets, such information leakage can serve as a significant stepping stone for more severe attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, or further reconnaissance against the victim's environment. The attack vector aligns closely with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter via browser-based scripts, where JavaScript is used to manipulate DOM elements and access restricted resources due to insufficient validation of request origins and permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 157.0.8103.38 or later, which includes the necessary patches to enforce strict authorization checks during input processing. For organizations managing large fleets of browsers, implementing automated patch management systems ensures timely deployment of these security updates. Additionally, developers and administrators should adhere to secure coding practices that emphasize rigorous validation of all inputs and explicit verification of user privileges before granting access to sensitive resources. Utilizing Content Security Policy headers can also help mitigate the impact by restricting the sources from which scripts are allowed to execute, thereby reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authorization bypass scenarios further strengthen defenses against such flaws in web applications and browser environments alike.