CVE-2026-3544 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2026
Heap buffer overflow in WebCodecs in Google Chrome prior to 145.0.7632.159 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory write via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-3544 represents a critical heap buffer overflow within the WebCodecs API implementation in Google Chrome versions prior to 145.0.7632.159. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of multimedia processing capabilities that enable web applications to encode and decode audio and video content directly within the browser environment. The WebCodecs API provides developers with low-level access to media processing functions, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities. The issue stems from insufficient bounds checking during the processing of crafted media data structures that are passed to the WebCodecs implementation, creating a condition where malicious input can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap allocation space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow that occurs when the browser processes specially crafted HTML content containing malformed media data. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout through carefully constructed input that exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries within the WebCodecs processing pipeline. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits writes beyond the allocated memory region. The overflow can potentially overwrite adjacent heap metadata, function pointers, or other critical data structures, enabling arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The Chromium security team classified this issue as high severity due to the remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation through the browser's memory corruption capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2026-3544 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it creates a significant attack surface for remote exploitation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through malicious websites or web applications that utilize the WebCodecs API, requiring no user interaction beyond visiting the compromised page. The exploitability is particularly concerning because the WebCodecs API is increasingly being adopted by modern web applications for video processing, streaming services, and real-time media applications, making the attack vector highly relevant to current web usage patterns. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control communication and T1203 for exploitation of remote services, as the heap overflow can be used to gain code execution privileges within the browser sandbox. The remote nature of the attack means that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious webpage, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-3544 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 145.0.7632.159 or later, where the heap buffer overflow has been addressed through improved bounds checking and memory validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as the vulnerability affects the browser's core multimedia processing capabilities. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious media content patterns, utilizing browser security features such as site isolation and sandboxing, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict the use of potentially vulnerable APIs and regularly audit web applications for proper implementation of input validation and error handling. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and demonstrates the critical need for continuous monitoring of security advisories from browser vendors, particularly for APIs that handle sensitive multimedia data processing operations.