CVE-2026-17940 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Picture-in-Picture in Google Chrome on Android 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: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability resides within the Picture-in-Picture functionality of Google Chrome on Android systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The core issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms for untrusted input data that flows through the renderer process component responsible for handling Picture-in-Picture operations. When a malicious actor successfully compromises the renderer process, they can exploit this weakness to potentially escape the sandbox environment that normally isolates browser processes from the underlying operating system. The vulnerability represents a sandbox escape vector that could allow attackers to bypass Chrome's security boundaries and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in how Chrome handles user-supplied data within Picture-in-Picture contexts, where insufficient input sanitization permits malicious payloads to be processed without proper validation checks. This weakness enables an attacker who has already gained access to the renderer process through separate exploitation techniques to leverage this vulnerability as a stepping stone for further compromise. The attack requires the adversary to first establish a foothold in the renderer process, which then provides them with the capability to manipulate Picture-in-Picture functionality in ways that circumvent Chrome's security model.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens Chrome's security architecture on Android devices by providing a potential path for privilege escalation. The low severity classification from Chromium indicates that while the immediate impact may seem limited, the sandbox escape capability represents a serious threat to overall system security. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to access sensitive user data, execute arbitrary code, or escalate privileges beyond what should be permitted within the browser's isolated environment. This weakness particularly affects Android users who rely on Chrome for web browsing and may be exploited in targeted attacks against specific users or organizations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a specific instance of sandbox escape techniques that fall under ATT&CK tactic T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should prioritize updating to Chrome version 151.0.7922.72 or later to mitigate this risk, as the patch addresses the insufficient input validation in Picture-in-Picture operations. Additional mitigations include maintaining strict process isolation policies, monitoring for unusual renderer behavior, and implementing network-based protections such as content security policies that limit the execution of potentially malicious HTML content. Security teams should also consider deploying browser hardening measures that further restrict the capabilities available to compromised renderer processes, reducing the overall attack surface and potential impact of such vulnerabilities.