CVE-2026-1861 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2026
Heap buffer overflow in libvpx in Google Chrome prior to 144.0.7559.132 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1861 represents a critical heap buffer overflow within the libvpx library component that is integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to 144.0.7559.132. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack buffer overflow conditions, though in this case the vulnerability manifests in heap memory management rather than stack-based corruption. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the processing of video content, particularly when handling VP8 and VP9 video codecs that are commonly embedded within html pages through the browser's multimedia capabilities.
The technical flaw occurs when the libvpx library fails to properly validate input parameters during video frame decoding operations, allowing an attacker to craft malicious HTML content that triggers an out-of-bounds memory write operation. This heap corruption vulnerability enables a remote attacker to manipulate heap memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome browser process. The exploitation requires the victim to visit a malicious webpage that contains specially crafted video content, making this a classic remote code execution vector through web-based attacks. The Chromium security severity rating of High indicates that the vulnerability presents significant risk due to its remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise when combined with additional attack vectors or when the browser process runs with elevated privileges. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that rely on Chrome as their primary browser, potentially creating widespread security implications across enterprise environments. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of Advanced Persistent Threats as it provides attackers with a reliable method for initial access and privilege escalation without requiring physical access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-1861 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, with organizations urged to deploy Chrome version 144.0.7559.132 or later immediately. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious content patterns, while browser security policies should be enhanced to restrict multimedia content processing where possible. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as exploitation typically involves JavaScript-based delivery mechanisms to trigger the vulnerable code path. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns and heap corruption indicators in their security information and event management systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of older Chrome versions within the organization, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar heap-based vulnerabilities.