CVE-2026-16807 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/24/2026
Out of bounds write in Codecs in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.186 allowed a remote attacker to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition affecting Google Chrome's codec handling functionality prior to version 150.0.7871.186, classified as a high-severity issue within the Chromium security framework. The flaw exists in how Chrome processes multimedia codecs, specifically when handling crafted HTML content that triggers improper memory management during media decoding operations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by constructing malicious web pages that force the browser to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries within codec processing components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms within Chrome's media processing pipeline where decoded audio or video data is written to memory buffers without proper validation of buffer limits. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations with controlled data, potentially corrupting critical process structures or executable code. The vulnerability specifically impacts the browser's sandbox isolation model since successful exploitation could enable attackers to escape the restricted browsing environment and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users as it requires only a single visit to a malicious website to potentially compromise system integrity. The attack vector leverages web-based delivery methods making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. Security researchers have classified this under CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" which directly maps to the core technical flaw of writing beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The impact extends beyond immediate code execution as this vulnerability can be chained with other exploits to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation, while network administrators should consider implementing web filtering controls to block access to known malicious domains until patches are deployed.
Mitigation strategies include maintaining current Chrome versions with the latest security updates, enabling automatic updates where possible, and implementing additional browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary media codecs. Security professionals should monitor for exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a sandbox escape technique under T1055.006: "Windows Management Instrumentation", though the actual exploitation mechanism operates through memory corruption rather than WMI. Organizations must also consider deploying exploit prevention technologies such as control flow integrity checks and heap metadata protection to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts.