CVE-2026-17994
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Inappropriate implementation in Media in Google Chrome on Android prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to bypass navigation restrictions via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a navigation restriction bypass in the media handling component of Google Chrome for Android, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The issue stems from an inadequate implementation that fails to properly validate or enforce security boundaries when processing crafted HTML content containing media elements. The flaw allows remote attackers to circumvent intended navigation restrictions that should prevent certain types of content access or redirection behaviors, potentially enabling unauthorized access to restricted resources or malicious page navigation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and access control enforcement within the browser's media processing subsystem. When Chrome processes HTML pages containing specially crafted media elements, the application fails to properly validate the context and intended behavior of these elements, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate navigation flows that should otherwise be restricted. This represents a failure in the browser's security model where media handling components do not adequately verify the legitimacy of navigation requests originating from media content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple navigation bypass, potentially enabling attackers to redirect users to malicious sites or access restricted content that should remain protected. Attackers could craft HTML pages containing embedded media elements that exploit this weakness to force unwanted navigation behaviors, potentially leading to phishing attacks, malware delivery, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The low severity classification suggests the vulnerability primarily affects user experience rather than system compromise, but it still represents a significant security gap in Chrome's content handling mechanisms.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which addresses protection mechanism failures, and falls within the ATT&CK framework under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1566 - Phishing. The attack vector typically involves delivering malicious HTML content through email, web browsing, or social engineering campaigns where users inadvertently trigger the vulnerability through media elements embedded in web pages. Security professionals should consider this when evaluating browser security configurations and implementing network-based protections.
Mitigation strategies include immediate updating of Chrome to version 151.0.7922.72 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the navigation restriction bypass. Organizations should also implement additional network-level controls such as web filtering solutions and content inspection tools that can detect and block suspicious HTML content containing media elements that might exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments of browser configurations and user education programs about avoiding untrusted content sources remain essential defensive measures against similar exploitation vectors.