CVE-2026-121219 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2026
Integer overflow in GPU in Google Chrome prior to 157.0.8103.38 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as an integer overflow within the graphics processing unit subsystem of Google Chrome prior to version 157.0.8103.38 represents a critical failure in boundary checking during memory allocation or arithmetic operations related to GPU command buffers and shader execution contexts. This flaw allows for the manipulation of internal data structures that govern how graphical instructions are processed by the hardware accelerator. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing specific WebGL or Canvas API calls, they can trigger calculations within the browser's rendering engine that exceed the maximum value representable by the allocated integer type. This overflow results in incorrect memory addresses being calculated for buffer allocations or command queue entries, leading to out-of-bounds writes or reads within the GPU driver interface and associated system memory regions outside the strict confines of the renderer process sandbox.
From a technical perspective, this issue falls under CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is frequently exploited in conjunction with CWE-787 Out-of-Bounds Write to achieve arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability leverages the complex interaction between the browser's JavaScript engine and the low-level GPU drivers. By carefully crafting input that causes an arithmetic operation to wrap around a negative value or exceed a signed integer limit, the attacker can trick the renderer into writing data beyond the intended buffer boundaries. Because modern browsers rely heavily on hardware acceleration for performance, any compromise in this layer poses a significant risk as it bypasses many of the software-based isolation mechanisms designed to contain malicious code within the sandboxed environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation from a low-privilege renderer process to arbitrary code execution with the context of the user or potentially higher system privileges depending on driver configurations and operating system protections. An attacker who has already compromised the renderer process, which can occur through other vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting combined with exploit kits or drive-by downloads, could utilize this integer overflow to escape the sandbox boundary. This escalation allows for full control over the victim's machine, enabling data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, and lateral movement within a network if the compromised system is part of an enterprise environment. The Chromium security team has classified this issue with a medium severity rating, reflecting its reliance on renderer compromise as a prerequisite but acknowledging the high impact once that initial foothold is established.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching to version 157.0.8103.38 or later, where Google Chrome developers have implemented stricter bounds checking and validation for GPU-related arithmetic operations. Organizations should ensure automated update policies are in place to deploy these patches rapidly across all endpoints. Additionally, defense-in-depth measures such as enabling hardware-based sandboxing features like Windows Defender Application Control or macOS Gatekeeper can help mitigate the impact of renderer escapes by restricting which binaries are allowed to execute and interact with GPU drivers. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise associated with WebGL exploitation techniques and ensure that browser extensions are minimized to reduce the attack surface available to potential attackers attempting to trigger such vulnerabilities through crafted web content.