CVE-2026-4675 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2026
Heap buffer overflow in WebGL in Google Chrome prior to 146.0.7680.165 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 • 03/28/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical heap buffer overflow condition within the WebGL implementation of Google Chrome browsers, specifically affecting versions prior to 146.0.7680.165. The flaw resides in the graphics processing subsystem that handles WebGL API calls, which are essential for rendering 3D graphics in web browsers without requiring additional plugins. The vulnerability manifests when the browser processes specially crafted HTML pages that contain malicious WebGL commands, leading to improper memory management during graphics rendering operations. According to chromium security severity classification, this issue is categorized as high risk due to its potential for remote code execution and information disclosure.
The technical root cause involves improper bounds checking within the WebGL memory allocation routines where the application fails to validate array indices or buffer sizes before performing memory operations. When a malicious web page triggers WebGL functions with crafted parameters, the application allocates memory on the heap without adequate validation of input boundaries, resulting in a buffer overflow condition. This allows an attacker to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially accessing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability specifically enables out-of-bounds memory reads that could expose stack contents, heap metadata, or other critical application data. This type of flaw falls under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented vulnerability pattern in the CWE database that directly relates to improper memory management in heap-allocated data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform remote code execution through carefully constructed WebGL content. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory locations. The remote nature of the attack means that victims need only visit a malicious webpage to be compromised, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can deliver malicious WebGL content through web-based attack vectors. The exploitability is further enhanced by the fact that WebGL is widely supported across modern browsers and is frequently used in legitimate web applications, making the attack surface broad and difficult to monitor.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation, as this vulnerability could be actively exploited in the wild. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Chrome version 146.0.7680.165 or later, which includes memory bounds checking improvements and heap management fixes. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious WebGL content, though this approach may not be comprehensive given the sophisticated nature of modern web-based attacks. Additional defensive measures include enabling browser security features such as sandboxing, content security policies, and strict MIME type checking. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust memory safety practices in graphics rendering libraries and underscores the need for continuous security auditing of browser components that handle untrusted input data. This incident reinforces the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing layered defense strategies to protect against sophisticated remote exploitation techniques targeting browser graphics subsystems.