CVE-2026-76046 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Buffer overflow in ANGLE in Google Chrome on on Android prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified in ANGLE, the graphics abstraction layer utilized by Google Chrome on Android prior to version 151.0.7922.169, represents a critical failure in memory safety within the browser's rendering engine. This buffer overflow flaw allows for arbitrary code execution outside of the security sandbox when an attacker successfully compromises the renderer process through a crafted HTML page. The severity is classified as High by Chromium standards due to the potential for full system compromise if the attack chain is completed effectively, highlighting the risks associated with complex graphics libraries that interface directly with hardware accelerators and low-level memory structures.
At its core, this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking or memory management within the ANGLE library's handling of specific graphical operations triggered by malicious web content. When a user visits a specially crafted webpage containing exploit code designed to trigger these conditions, the renderer process processes input data that exceeds allocated buffer limits. This overflow allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially gaining control over program execution flow. Since this occurs within the context of the browser's rendering engine, which is typically isolated in a sandboxed environment to limit damage from web-based attacks, successfully exploiting this flaw enables code execution outside these protective boundaries.
The operational impact of such a vulnerability is severe, as it facilitates privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution on the victim device. An attacker who can trick a user into loading malicious content could execute commands with the privileges of the browser process, which may have access to sensitive local files, network resources, or other application data depending on the specific permissions granted to Chrome on Android. This undermines the fundamental security model of modern web browsers, where isolation between tabs and processes is designed to contain threats within a single tab without affecting the host operating system or other applications.
From an industry standards perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-120, Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input, which describes classic buffer overflow vulnerabilities resulting from insufficient validation of input data lengths relative to destination buffer capacity. Furthermore, in terms of tactical execution within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for mobile platforms, this vulnerability supports techniques related to Initial Access via Spearphishing Link or Drive-by Compromise, followed by Defense Evasion through Sandbox Escape and Privilege Escalation using Local Exploitation. The exploitation path typically involves crafting a malicious webpage that triggers the overflow, leading to code execution in an unsandboxed context, thereby bypassing standard browser security controls.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome on Android to version 151.0.7922.169 or later, where these memory safety issues have been addressed through rigorous patching and improved bounds checking within the ANGLE library. For organizations deploying mobile devices at scale, ensuring automated update policies are in place is critical to minimizing exposure windows. Additionally, users should exercise caution when interacting with untrusted web content, although reliance on browser updates remains the most effective defense against such zero-day or recently disclosed vulnerabilities. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to renderer process anomalies and implement network-level controls that can detect suspicious outbound connections resulting from successful exploitation attempts.