CVE-2026-3541 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2026
Inappropriate implementation in CSS in Google Chrome prior to 145.0.7632.159 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory read via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue within Google Chrome's CSS rendering engine that could be exploited remotely through malicious web content. The flaw manifests as an improper implementation in how Chrome processes certain CSS properties, specifically when handling memory allocation and access patterns during the rendering of crafted HTML documents. The vulnerability falls under the category of out-of-bounds memory read conditions that can occur when Chrome attempts to parse and render CSS styles that contain malformed or specially constructed parameters. Such issues typically arise from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms within the browser's rendering pipeline, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory access patterns that exceed allocated buffer boundaries. The Chromium security team classified this as high severity due to its remote exploitability and potential for arbitrary code execution or information disclosure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts an HTML page containing malicious CSS code that triggers improper memory handling within Chrome's layout engine. The flaw specifically impacts the CSS parsing and rendering components that process complex styling rules, particularly those involving nested selectors, pseudo-elements, or advanced layout properties. When Chrome processes these malformed CSS constructs, it fails to properly validate memory access boundaries, leading to a situation where the application reads data from memory locations outside the intended buffer. This type of vulnerability is commonly categorized under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The memory read operation typically occurs during the CSS cascade and layout computation phases, where Chrome calculates final rendering properties for elements on the page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could leverage this flaw to extract sensitive data from Chrome's memory space, including cached credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information stored in memory. The remote nature of the exploit means that users could be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website or viewing an email with embedded malicious content. This vulnerability particularly affects users of older Chrome versions and could be exploited in conjunction with other techniques to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the compromised system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior, making it an attractive target for advanced persistent threat actors. Security researchers have noted that such memory safety issues often serve as initial access vectors for more complex attack chains, where the extracted information can be used to target additional systems or escalate privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 145.0.7632.159 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the CSS parsing logic. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems receive security patches promptly. Network administrators can deploy web filtering solutions to block known malicious domains, though this approach provides only partial protection as the vulnerability can be exploited through various delivery mechanisms. Browser hardening techniques such as sandboxing and strict Content Security Policy enforcement can reduce the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and opening suspicious email attachments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security audits and the need for robust input validation in complex software systems. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement appropriate threat hunting procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts in their environments.