CVE-2026-17914 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Side-channel information leakage in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a side-channel information leakage issue within the Skia graphics library component that is integral to Google Chrome's rendering engine. The flaw exists in the way Skia handles certain graphic operations and memory access patterns, creating observable timing variations or other indirect information channels that could be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 151.0.7922.72 where proper memory isolation and access controls were insufficiently implemented within the graphics rendering pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how Skia processes certain graphical operations that result in measurable differences in execution time or resource utilization patterns. When a malicious HTML page is loaded, it can trigger specific sequences of graphic rendering commands that cause the underlying hardware to exhibit timing variations or cache behavior changes that indirectly reveal information about memory contents. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of cache timing attacks and memory access pattern analysis, where the attacker observes the system's response characteristics rather than directly accessing memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant despite its low severity classification as it provides attackers with a method to extract potentially sensitive information from process memory without requiring direct privilege escalation or code execution. An attacker could leverage this weakness to gather information about other processes running in the same memory space, potentially including user credentials, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data that might be stored in adjacent memory regions. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation requires only a malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous as users can be compromised simply by visiting a tainted website.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve updating to Chrome version 151.0.7922.72 or later where the Skia library has been patched to eliminate the information leakage pathways. The fix typically involves implementing proper memory access controls, ensuring consistent execution timing regardless of underlying data patterns, and applying cache flushing mechanisms during sensitive operations. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as content security policies and web application firewalls that can help detect and block malicious content before it reaches users. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management processes should be maintained to ensure all systems remain protected against similar vulnerabilities in graphics rendering components.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks including CWE-203: Information Exposure Through Implementation Problems which addresses information leakage due to implementation flaws in security controls, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1557.001: Adversary-in-the-Middle - DNS Server to describe how attackers can leverage such information leaks for reconnaissance purposes. The issue also demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in graphics libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of rendering engines that handle untrusted content, particularly in browser environments where multiple security contexts must be maintained simultaneously.