CVE-2026-17863 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Inappropriate implementation in Browser in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a local attacker to perform privilege escalation via a malicious file. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a privilege escalation flaw in Google Chrome's browser implementation on Windows systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The issue stems from an inadequate handling of malicious files within the browser's security model, creating an opportunity for local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative access. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and privilege management within the Chromium-based browser architecture.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when Chrome processes certain file types that trigger unexpected behavior in the Windows operating system's permission handling mechanisms. This allows malicious files to exploit a weakness in how Chrome interacts with Windows file system permissions, potentially enabling attackers to execute code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's medium severity rating according to Chromium security guidelines indicates a significant risk given the potential for local privilege escalation attacks. Such flaws typically manifest when browser components fail to properly validate or sanitize file operations that could be manipulated by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with administrative access to affected systems. This creates a substantial risk for enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, modify system files, or exfiltrate sensitive data from within the network. The local nature of the attack means that no network connectivity or external exploitation is required, making it particularly dangerous in environments with limited network segmentation.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating Chrome to version 151.0.7922.72 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this privilege escalation vector. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Chrome deployments and consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and user access restrictions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under technique T1068, specifically leveraging browser-based attack vectors to gain elevated system privileges. The CWE classification for this issue would likely be CWE-276, representing inadequate privileges or permissions in software implementations that allow unauthorized access to system resources.