CVE-2026-76037 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Link following in CredentialProvider in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a local attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a local program. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8389 represents a critical failure in Google Chrome's credential management subsystem on Windows operating systems prior to version 151.0.7922.169. This flaw specifically resides within the CredentialProvider component, which is responsible for handling authentication credentials and facilitating secure interactions between web applications and the underlying operating system. The core technical issue involves an improper link following mechanism that allows a local attacker to manipulate how references are resolved during credential retrieval or storage operations. By exploiting this logic error, an adversary can redirect the flow of execution or data access away from intended safe paths, effectively bypassing the security boundaries established by the browser's sandbox architecture.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of link targets within the CredentialProvider module. When processing credential-related requests, Chrome fails to adequately verify that the resolved links point exclusively to trusted and expected resources. This lack of rigorous path traversal checks or canonicalization allows an attacker with local access on the victim machine to craft specific inputs that cause the application to follow maliciously constructed symbolic links or file references. Consequently, this enables the execution of arbitrary code outside the restrictive sandbox environment where Chrome typically operates. The sandbox is designed to limit the damage a compromised process can inflict by restricting its access to system resources and preventing it from executing privileged operations; bypassing this boundary significantly escalates the potential impact of an attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it facilitates privilege escalation through code execution in an unrestricted context. A local attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could gain the ability to run arbitrary programs with the same privileges as the user running Chrome, or potentially higher depending on system configuration and service accounts involved. This capability undermines the fundamental security model of modern web browsers, which rely heavily on sandboxing to contain potential compromises from malicious websites or scripts. The exploitation does not require remote interaction, meaning that any local account on the affected Windows machine can attempt this attack without needing network access or social engineering tactics beyond initial local presence.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-754 Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions in Chromium's security logic. In terms of offensive cybersecurity frameworks, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically through the mechanism of local code execution via system binary proxying or link manipulation. The attack vector is classified as Local (AV:L) with Low complexity (AC:L), but it carries a High severity rating due to its ability to escape sandbox restrictions, which are critical for maintaining overall system integrity.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 151.0.7922.169 or later on all Windows endpoints where the browser is installed. Organizations should ensure that automatic update mechanisms are enabled and functioning correctly to prevent exposure during the window between vulnerability disclosure and patch deployment. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, implementing strict application control policies such as Microsoft AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control can help restrict the execution of untrusted binaries in directories accessible by Chrome's credential handling processes. Additionally, monitoring for unusual process creation events originating from browser-related services may aid in detecting exploitation attempts before significant damage occurs.