CVE-2026-3932 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2026
Insufficient policy enforcement in PDF in Google Chrome on Android prior to 146.0.7680.71 allowed a remote attacker to bypass navigation restrictions via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-3932 represents a significant security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of PDF documents on Android platforms. This issue stems from inadequate policy enforcement mechanisms that govern how Chrome processes and renders PDF content, particularly when embedded within HTML pages. The vulnerability affects versions of Chrome prior to 146.0.7680.71 and demonstrates a critical failure in the browser's security model that could allow malicious actors to circumvent intended navigation restrictions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector involving crafted HTML pages that contain embedded PDF content. When Chrome processes such pages, the insufficient policy enforcement allows the malicious code to manipulate navigation behaviors that should normally be restricted. This flaw operates at the intersection of web content rendering and security policy enforcement, where the browser's PDF viewer fails to properly validate or restrict navigation commands that originate from embedded content. The vulnerability specifically targets the boundary between HTML page execution and PDF document rendering, creating an attack surface where malicious navigation directives can be executed without proper authorization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to bypass security controls that are designed to prevent unauthorized navigation to external resources or specific internal pages. The medium severity classification reflects the potential for attackers to redirect users to malicious websites or access restricted content within the browser environment. This capability could be exploited in phishing campaigns, social engineering attacks, or to deliver additional malware payloads through unauthorized navigation paths. The attack requires only a remote web page to be loaded, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which addresses protection mechanism failures in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in web browsers to gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including prompt updating of Chrome to version 146.0.7680.71 or later, deployment of network-based security controls to monitor for suspicious navigation patterns, and enhanced user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing browser security policies that restrict PDF handling capabilities and monitor for anomalous navigation behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the update does not disrupt legitimate business operations while providing the necessary security protections against this specific navigation bypass vulnerability.