CVE-2026-15122 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2026
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Codecs in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 150.0.7871.115 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sandbox escape vector in Google Chrome's codec handling mechanism on Windows systems. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of untrusted input within the codec processing components that handle multimedia content decoding. When a renderer process is compromised, an attacker can craft malicious HTML pages that exploit this weakness to break out of the restricted browser sandbox environment. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.115 and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input sanitization within the multimedia codec pipeline.
The technical execution of this attack leverages the compromised renderer process to deliver crafted multimedia content that triggers improper validation within Chrome's codec handling code. This allows the attacker to bypass the security boundaries designed to isolate browser processes from the underlying operating system. The flaw operates at the intersection of multiple security domains including process isolation, memory management, and input validation controls. It represents a classic example of insufficient input validation as classified under CWE-20, where untrusted data is not properly validated before being processed by the application.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to achieve privilege escalation from the limited renderer sandbox to full system access. The attack chain begins with renderer compromise through initial exploitation vectors such as drive-by downloads or malicious websites, followed by the delivery of crafted HTML content that exploits the codec validation gap. Once successful, the attacker gains access to system resources and can potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where browser-based attacks are common attack vectors.
The security implications extend beyond immediate exploitation as this vulnerability demonstrates weaknesses in Chrome's defense-in-depth strategy for multimedia processing. It highlights the importance of validating all input at multiple levels within application architecture and emphasizes the need for robust sandboxing mechanisms that cannot be trivially bypassed. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including browser updates, network-based protections, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns.
Mitigation approaches should focus on immediate patch deployment to Chrome versions 150.0.7871.115 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for the codec validation issues. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious multimedia content. Additionally, regular security assessments of browser configurations and user access controls can help reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for execution through compromised processes and T1078 for valid accounts usage, demonstrating the multi-stage nature of modern browser-based attacks that leverage sandbox escape capabilities.
The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring for browser-based attack vectors. Organizations should establish automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment of security fixes. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focusing on browser components can help identify similar validation gaps before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability also reinforces the need for continuous security education regarding safe browsing practices and the dangers of visiting untrusted websites with multimedia content that could trigger such exploits.