CVE-2026-76029 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Memory corruption in Network in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.79 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3929 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Network component of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 156.0.8078.79. This defect resides in the underlying Chromium engine responsible for handling network requests and responses, which is central to how browsers communicate with external servers. The severity of this issue is classified as High by the Chromium security team due to its potential to bypass sandboxing mechanisms that are designed to isolate web content from the host operating system. Memory corruption vulnerabilities such as use-after-free or buffer overflows in network processing modules are particularly dangerous because they occur during the handling of data received from remote sources, making them prime targets for exploitation by malicious actors seeking arbitrary code execution capabilities within a restricted environment.
The technical nature of this flaw involves improper memory management practices within the Network module. When Chrome processes crafted HTML pages or associated resources that trigger specific network operations, the browser fails to correctly manage the lifecycle of certain data structures in memory. This oversight can lead to scenarios where pointers reference freed memory locations or access out-of-bounds regions. An attacker who crafts a malicious webpage containing specially designed scripts and resource requests can exploit this timing error or logic flaw. By triggering the vulnerable code path, the attacker causes the browser to write to or read from unintended memory areas, thereby corrupting the heap or stack structure of the process. This corruption is not merely cosmetic; it alters control flow data such as return addresses or function pointers, which are essential for normal program execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it allows a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. While modern browsers employ robust sandboxing techniques that restrict what web content can do with system resources, memory corruption bugs often provide the necessary primitives to escape these restrictions. Once an attacker gains control over execution flow through heap or stack manipulation, they may be able to bypass security mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). This could lead to full compromise of the user's system if the sandbox is successfully escaped, allowing access to sensitive files, credentials, and other personal data stored on the device. The ability to execute code remotely via a crafted HTML page means that no physical access or social engineering beyond visiting a malicious site is required, significantly lowering the barrier for exploitation in drive-by attack scenarios.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and CWE-416 Use After Free, depending on the specific memory corruption mechanism involved within the Network component. In terms of offensive security frameworks, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage vulnerabilities in client software like web browsers to execute malicious payloads. The attack vector is classified as Remote (Network) with High complexity due to the need for specific crafting of network requests and precise timing or state manipulation within the browser engine. Defense-in-depth strategies are crucial here; while user education remains important, technical controls such as keeping browsers updated are paramount since this vulnerability was addressed in version 156.0.8078.79.
Mitigation for this issue primarily involves updating Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.79 or later immediately upon availability. Organizations should enforce automated update policies across all endpoints running the affected browser versions to ensure that patches are applied promptly after release. Additionally, deploying endpoint detection and response solutions with behavioral analysis capabilities can help identify anomalous processes spawned by Chrome instances following visits to untrusted websites. Network segmentation and strict content security policies further reduce the attack surface by limiting which domains a user's browser is permitted to interact with, thereby reducing the likelihood of encountering maliciously crafted pages that trigger this vulnerability. Regular auditing of installed software versions against known vulnerable lists remains essential for maintaining a secure posture against such high-severity memory corruption flaws.