CVE-2026-76039 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Incorrect reference resolution in Core in Google Chrome on on Android prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to obtain sensitive information via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as an incorrect reference resolution flaw within the core components of Google Chrome on Android represents a significant risk to user data confidentiality and application integrity. This issue, which was addressed in version 151.0.7922.169, stems from a logic error where the browser fails to correctly resolve object references during specific rendering or scripting operations. Such flaws typically arise when the engine mishandles pointers or identifiers within its internal data structures, leading to situations where memory intended for one context is accessed by another unintended context. In this specific instance, the flaw allows an attacker who has successfully leveraged social engineering techniques to trick a user into visiting a maliciously crafted HTML page to exploit this misresolution. The primary outcome of this exploitation vector is the unauthorized acquisition of sensitive information stored or processed within the browser environment, such as cookies, local storage data, or credentials cached by web applications.
From a technical perspective, incorrect reference resolution often falls under the category of logic errors that can lead to out-of-bounds reads or use-after-free conditions if not properly mitigated by bounds checking and memory safety mechanisms inherent in modern browsers like Blink and V8. Although Chrome employs rigorous sandboxing and process isolation to limit the blast radius of such vulnerabilities, a high-severity classification indicates that the flaw likely bypasses these containment layers sufficiently to allow data exfiltration or state manipulation. The reliance on social engineering highlights that while the technical exploit is potent, it requires user interaction to trigger, classifying this as an attack vector where human error serves as the initial entry point for automated exploitation scripts hosted within the crafted HTML page.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers such as CWE-824: Access of Uninitialized Pointer and CWE-913: Improper Control of Dynamically-Identified Variables, which describe scenarios where software fails to properly manage variable references or memory locations. Furthermore, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework for mobile platforms, this behavior corresponds to techniques involving client-side code injection and data exfiltration through browser-based attacks. The attacker utilizes the crafted HTML page to execute malicious JavaScript that interacts with the vulnerable core component, effectively turning a standard web browsing session into an attack surface where sensitive user data can be read and transmitted to remote servers controlled by the adversary.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate data theft; it undermines the trust model of the browser as a secure gateway for internet activities. Users may find their personal identities compromised, financial information exposed, or account sessions hijacked if session tokens are accessed through this flaw. For organizations deploying Chrome on Android devices in enterprise environments, such vulnerabilities pose a risk to corporate data security, especially if employees access sensitive internal web applications while browsing other sites that might host similar exploits. The high severity rating underscores the potential for widespread impact given the massive user base of Google Chrome and the ease with which social engineering campaigns can be scaled across different demographics.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve ensuring that all devices running Android are updated to version 151.0.7922.169 or later, where this reference resolution logic has been corrected by the Chromium security team. Beyond patching, users should maintain strict browsing hygiene, including avoiding suspicious links and verifying URL authenticity before interacting with web content that requests sensitive permissions. Enterprise administrators can further mitigate risk by enforcing policies that restrict access to untrusted domains or deploying mobile device management solutions that monitor for anomalous browser behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Continuous monitoring and rapid deployment of security patches remain the most effective defenses against such logic-based vulnerabilities in widely used software ecosystems.