CVE-2026-76041 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Information leak in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a remote attacker to potentially bypass web origin policy via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Skia graphics library, which serves as the core rendering engine for Google Chrome prior to version 151.0.7922.169, represents a critical information leak that undermines fundamental web isolation principles. This flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially bypass web origin policies through the delivery of a specially crafted HTML page. The Skia library is responsible for translating high-level drawing commands into pixel data on the screen, and its deep integration with Chrome's rendering pipeline means that any defect in this layer can have far-reaching security implications beyond simple visual glitches.
At the technical level, the vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory or state during the processing of specific graphical operations within Skia. When a malicious HTML page is rendered, it triggers code paths where sensitive data associated with one web origin leaks into a context accessible by another origin. This typically occurs due to insufficient checks on resource ownership or failure to properly clear buffers before reuse, leading to an out-of-bounds read or use-after-free condition that exposes internal memory contents. The attacker crafts the HTML page to exploit this specific sequence of events, forcing the browser to render content in a way that reveals data belonging to other domains, such as cookies, session tokens, or private DOM elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it directly compromises the Same-Origin Policy (SOP), which is the cornerstone of web security. By bypassing these origin boundaries, an attacker can perform cross-site scripting attacks with greater efficacy, steal sensitive user data from other sites loaded in the same browser instance, or conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns that appear legitimate due to access to internal state information. The Chromium project has classified this issue as High severity, reflecting its potential for widespread exploitation and the ease with which it can be weaponized via standard web delivery mechanisms without requiring additional plugins or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site.
This type of flaw is commonly categorized under CWE-200: Information Exposure, specifically relating to exposure of sensitive information through error messages or improper resource handling in graphical libraries. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates techniques associated with Collection and Exfiltration over C2 channels if combined with other exploits, but primarily it supports Reconnaissance by allowing attackers to gather detailed information about a victim's browsing session and active sessions on other sites. The lack of strict isolation between rendering contexts allows for data leakage that can be exfiltrated via side-channel attacks or direct DOM manipulation depending on the specific implementation details of the Skia bug.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 151.0.7922.169 or later, where these memory handling issues in Skia have been addressed through stricter bounds checking and improved resource management protocols. For organizations relying on enterprise deployments of Chromium-based browsers, ensuring automatic update policies are enforced is critical to closing this window of exposure. Additionally, developers integrating custom builds should ensure that the underlying Skia library is updated to a patched version that includes fixes for these specific rendering engine vulnerabilities. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual network traffic patterns originating from browser processes, which may indicate active exploitation attempts targeting older versions before patches are applied.