CVE-2026-19164 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2026
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Codecs in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.109 allowed a remote attacker to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sandbox escape risk in Google Chrome's codec processing system that could enable remote code execution with elevated privileges. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the browser's media codec handling components, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.109. When a malicious actor crafts a specially designed HTML page containing malformed media data, the browser's codec parser fails to properly validate the incoming untrusted input before processing it within the sandboxed environment. This insufficient validation creates a pathway for attackers to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities that bypass Chrome's security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic sandbox escape vector through codec manipulation. Attackers can leverage this flaw by embedding maliciously crafted media content within web pages that trigger the vulnerable codec processing path. The exploit typically involves constructing media files or HTML elements that cause the browser to parse untrusted data through the affected codec components without proper boundary checks or sanitization routines. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors including browser exploitation, memory corruption, and privilege escalation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution as it fundamentally undermines Chrome's security architecture by allowing attackers to escape the sandboxed environment where regular web content is isolated from system resources. Once successfully exploited, the attacker gains access to the full system capabilities that would normally be restricted to browser processes, potentially enabling data theft, persistence mechanisms, or further network reconnaissance activities. The high severity classification reflects the ease with which this vulnerability can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 151.0.7922.109 or later, which includes enhanced input validation and improved codec handling routines. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious media content patterns, while browser security policies should enforce strict content sanitization and sandbox enforcement mechanisms. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers updated to prevent exploitation attempts that leverage this class of vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing stricter input validation checks within the codec processing pipeline to ensure all untrusted data is properly sanitized before any processing occurs, effectively closing the attack surface that previously allowed sandbox escape conditions.