CVE-2026-22166 in Graphics DDK
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2026
A web page that contains unusual WebGPU content loaded into the GPU GLES render process and can trigger write UAF crash in the GPU GLES user-space shared library. On certain platforms, when the process executing graphics workload has system privileges this could enable subsequent exploit on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a sophisticated zero-day exploit targeting the WebGPU API implementation within browser environments, specifically leveraging the GPU GLES (OpenGL ES) render process to achieve privilege escalation. The flaw manifests when a malicious web page loads unusual WebGPU content that triggers a use-after-free condition in the GPU GLES user-space shared library, creating a critical memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The technical implementation involves the improper handling of GPU memory resources during WebGPU content rendering, where freed memory blocks are accessed after being reallocated, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-416 Use After Free, which is classified as a critical weakness in the CWE database, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1543.003 for Create or Modify System Process. The operational impact is severe as it allows remote code execution in the context of the graphics processing unit, which on systems with elevated privileges can result in complete system compromise. When the graphics workload process executes with system privileges, the vulnerability creates a direct path for privilege escalation attacks, potentially enabling adversaries to gain root or administrator access to the affected system. The exploit chain typically involves loading malicious WebGPU content that forces the GPU driver to allocate and subsequently free memory blocks, followed by a race condition or memory manipulation that allows the attacker to overwrite freed memory with malicious code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level through the GPU driver, bypassing traditional user-space security mechanisms and operating system protections. The attack surface is broad as it affects any system running browsers with WebGPU support and GPU drivers that implement GLES rendering, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments and cloud computing platforms. The exploitation requires a combination of precise memory manipulation techniques and understanding of the specific GPU driver implementation, making it a sophisticated attack vector that would likely be discovered and weaponized by advanced persistent threat actors. Mitigation strategies include implementing strict memory management controls within GPU drivers, applying browser security patches that disable or restrict WebGPU functionality, and deploying runtime monitoring systems that can detect unusual GPU memory access patterns. Organizations should also consider isolating graphics processing components through sandboxing mechanisms and regularly updating their GPU drivers to address known vulnerabilities in the GLES implementation. The vulnerability demonstrates the increasing complexity of modern attack surfaces and the critical need for comprehensive security testing of graphics processing components in addition to traditional software security measures.