CVE-2026-4460 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2026
Out of bounds read in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 146.0.7680.153 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 • 03/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-4460 represents a critical out of bounds memory read flaw within the Skia graphics library component of Google Chrome. This issue affects versions prior to 146.0.7680.153 and constitutes a high severity security concern according to Chromium's security classification system. The flaw exists within the Skia graphics engine which is responsible for rendering graphics operations in web browsers and applications, making it a fundamental component of the browser's visual processing pipeline.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the Skia library's handling of graphics data structures. When processing specially crafted HTML pages, the graphics rendering engine fails to validate memory access boundaries, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory reads beyond allocated buffer limits. This out of bounds read condition can potentially expose sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, including stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments. The vulnerability specifically manifests during the parsing and rendering of graphics elements within HTML documents, where the Skia library processes image data, vector graphics, or other visual components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution capabilities for attackers who can craft malicious web pages designed to trigger the out of bounds read condition. The attack vector requires only a user to visit a compromised website, making it particularly dangerous as it does not require user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. The high severity classification indicates that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or further escalation attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially be leveraged to bypass security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms.
The flaw aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that have plagued graphics libraries and rendering engines for years. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for remote code execution through web-based attacks and T1566 for initial access via malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of graphics rendering systems where memory management errors can have severe security implications. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions and consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and browser hardening measures to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version updates to Chrome 146.0.7680.153 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for the out of bounds read condition. System administrators should also implement network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious web traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Additionally, browser security enhancements including sandboxing mechanisms and strict memory access controls should be enabled to reduce the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any similar issues within the broader browser ecosystem and related graphics libraries that might present similar attack surfaces.