CVE-2026-17768 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in WebSockets in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sandbox escape risk in google chrome's websocket implementation that could be exploited by attackers who have already compromised the renderer process. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of untrusted input within the websocket communication channel, specifically when processing crafted html pages that manipulate websocket connections. The vulnerability affects chrome versions prior to 151.0.7922.72 and demonstrates a failure in input sanitization that could allow malicious actors to bypass chrome's security model.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-20 which describes improper input validation, and more specifically relates to cwe-15 which addresses external control of system or configuration settings. The vulnerability exists because chrome's websocket implementation does not properly validate data received from untrusted sources during websocket connection establishment or data transmission phases. When a malicious html page is loaded in the renderer process, it can craft websocket messages that exploit this validation gap to escape the sandbox boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for users who encounter malicious content through compromised websites or phishing attacks. The attack vector requires an initial compromise of the renderer process, which typically occurs through traditional web-based exploits such as cross-site scripting or drive-by downloads. Once inside the renderer, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to break out of chrome's sandbox protection mechanisms and gain access to additional system resources or capabilities that should normally be restricted.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines chrome's security architecture. A successful exploitation could allow an attacker to read arbitrary files from the filesystem, execute code with elevated privileges, or potentially access other applications running on the same system. This aligns with att&ck technique t1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter and t1068 which addresses exploit for privilege escalation. The medium severity classification reflects the requirement for an initial compromise before exploitation is possible, but the potential consequences remain severe.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of chrome to version 151.0.7922.72 or later, as this resolves the underlying validation issues in websocket processing. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including strict content security policies, regular browser updates, and monitoring for suspicious websocket activity. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious websocket traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive input validation in all components of web browsers, particularly those handling real-time communication channels like websockets.