CVE-2026-76034 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Buffer overflow in WebGL in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Critical)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical buffer overflow within the WebGL implementation of Google Chrome prior to version 151.0.7922.169, representing a significant breach in browser security architecture. Buffer overflows occur when a program writes more data to a fixed-length block of memory than it is allocated to hold, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten with potentially malicious content. In the context of WebGL, which provides an API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics within any compatible web browser without the use of plugins, such flaws are particularly dangerous because they reside in low-level code that handles complex graphical computations. The Chromium security team has classified this issue as Critical due to its potential for remote code execution with minimal user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted webpage.
The technical flaw likely stems from improper bounds checking or memory management within the WebGL shader compiler or renderer components. When processing specially constructed HTML pages containing malformed JavaScript or GLSL shaders, the browser fails to validate input sizes against allocated buffer limits. This allows an attacker to inject shellcode or other executable payloads into adjacent memory regions, such as function return addresses or pointer tables. By carefully crafting these inputs, a remote attacker can manipulate the control flow of the application, leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it facilitates escape from the sandbox environment that typically isolates web content from the underlying operating system and user data. Modern browsers employ strict sandboxes to limit the damage caused by compromised websites, restricting access to file systems, network interfaces, and other sensitive resources. However, a successful buffer overflow exploit in WebGL can bypass these restrictions, allowing an attacker to execute code with the privileges of the current user. This could lead to full system compromise, including installation of malware, theft of credentials, or use of the machine as part of a botnet. The ability to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox effectively neutralizes one of the primary defense mechanisms against web-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching and proactive security hygiene. Users must update Google Chrome to version 151.0.7922.169 or later, which contains fixes for this memory corruption issue. Organizations should enforce automated browser updates through group policy or endpoint management solutions to ensure all client machines are protected against known vulnerabilities in the Chromium engine. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and content security policies can help mitigate exploitation attempts by restricting the execution of untrusted scripts and limiting interactions with WebGL contexts where possible. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise associated with exploit kits that target this specific vulnerability class.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input Classic, which describes situations where data is copied into a buffer without verifying the length of the input, leading to overflow conditions. Furthermore, in terms of attack tactics, this flaw supports ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on victim systems via client-side applications like web browsers. Understanding these mappings helps security professionals prioritize remediation efforts and align defensive measures with established industry frameworks for vulnerability management and threat mitigation.