CVE-2026-17935 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Heap buffer overflow in Codecs in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical heap buffer overflow condition within the codecs component of Google Chrome browsers running versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The flaw manifests when the browser processes specially crafted HTML content that triggers improper memory handling during media decoding operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, where an attacker can write beyond the allocated memory boundaries of heap-allocated buffers. This type of vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data lengths before copying or processing them into fixed-size buffers, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially corrupt program execution flow.
The exploitation vector involves a remote attacker who crafts a malicious HTML page containing specially formatted multimedia content that triggers the vulnerable codecs processing path. When Chrome renders this page, the buffer overflow occurs during the handling of media data structures, specifically within the decoding pipeline where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite heap memory. The Chromium security severity rating of low indicates the vulnerability's potential for exploitation, though it requires specific conditions and user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage. This attack scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as it leverages browser-based scripting environments to deliver malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution within the browser sandbox, as successful exploitation could potentially allow attackers to bypass security restrictions imposed by Chrome's sandbox architecture. The heap overflow may enable attackers to manipulate memory pointers, overwrite function return addresses, or corrupt data structures that control program flow, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process. The sandbox environment in Chrome provides isolation between the browser and underlying operating system, but a successful heap buffer overflow could potentially be used to escalate privileges or circumvent sandbox protections, though the exact exploitation path would depend on the specific memory corruption patterns and available mitigations such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome browsers to version 151.0.7922.72 or later, which includes memory safety improvements and bounds checking enhancements in the codecs processing components. Organizations should also implement network-based security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious HTML content patterns associated with known exploit signatures. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary media decoding features, restricting JavaScript execution on untrusted sites, and implementing strict content security policies can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, regular security assessments of browser configurations and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns related to exploitation attempts should be conducted as part of comprehensive cybersecurity defense strategies. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing layered security controls to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that target memory corruption vulnerabilities in multimedia processing components.