CVE-2026-121156 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2026
Buffer overflow in Dawn in Google Chrome 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: Critical)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9680 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Dawn component of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 157.0.8103.38. Dawn serves as Chromium’s implementation of the WebGPU API, which provides hardware-accelerated graphics and compute capabilities for web applications. The core technical issue stems from improper bounds checking or memory management within the rendering pipeline, allowing a crafted HTML page containing malicious JavaScript to trigger an out-of-bounds write operation. This flaw enables an attacker to corrupt adjacent memory structures, potentially overwriting function pointers or return addresses on the stack or heap. Because this vulnerability exists in Dawn, which operates with elevated privileges relative to standard web content but remains within the browser’s sandbox boundaries, successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution outside the intended security context if the sandbox is bypassed through additional chained vulnerabilities or specific hardware driver interactions.
From a technical perspective, buffer overflow vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (Classic Overflow). In the context of modern web browsers, such flaws are particularly dangerous because they reside in complex codebases that handle untrusted input from remote sources. The attacker’s strategy typically involves constructing a malicious webpage with specially crafted WebGL or WebGPU shaders and data structures designed to exploit the memory handling deficiency in Dawn. When the browser processes this content, the overflow allows for heap corruption or stack smashing, which can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries use client-side software vulnerabilities to execute malicious payloads on a victim’s system without direct user interaction beyond visiting the compromised site.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution and sandbox escape. If an attacker successfully exploits this flaw, they can gain control over the browser process with higher privileges than standard web content allows. This level of access enables the exfiltration of sensitive data such as cookies, session tokens, and saved passwords stored by the browser. Furthermore, it facilitates further lateral movement within a network if the compromised machine is part of an enterprise environment. The critical severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects the high likelihood of exploitation in the wild, given that many modern web applications rely heavily on GPU-accelerated features for performance-intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, and data visualization. Attackers can distribute malicious links via phishing campaigns or drive-by downloads to target users who visit compromised websites containing the exploit code.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching of Google Chrome to version 157.0.8103.38 or later, which includes fixes for the memory management issues in Dawn. Organizations should enforce automated update policies to ensure all endpoints are running patched versions promptly. For users unable to upgrade immediately, enabling sandbox enforcement and restricting JavaScript execution on untrusted sites can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that monitor for anomalous behavior associated with heap corruption or unauthorized memory access can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review web application firewalls to detect patterns consistent with buffer overflow exploits in HTTP requests targeting browser vulnerabilities.