CVE-2026-76047 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside 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 as a type confusion flaw within the V8 JavaScript engine, which powers Google Chrome prior to version 151.0.7922.169, represents a critical failure in memory safety and runtime type checking mechanisms. Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when an application incorrectly assumes that a variable or object is of one data type while it actually holds another, leading to undefined behavior during execution. In the context of V8, this typically involves the misinterpretation of JavaScript objects, arrays, or typed buffers due to improper handling of polymorphic inline caches or incorrect assumptions about property access patterns. When an attacker crafts a specific HTML page containing malicious JavaScript code, they can exploit these inconsistencies in type inference to manipulate how memory is accessed and interpreted by the engine. This exploitation allows for arbitrary read and write operations within the V8 heap space, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries of the scripting environment.
From a technical perspective, this flaw falls under CWE-843, which classifies access to incorrect data type, or potentially CWE-120 if it leads directly to buffer overflows depending on the specific manifestation in memory layout. The attack vector is classified as remote via network (ATT&CK T1190), where the initial compromise occurs through a user visiting a maliciously crafted webpage hosted by an attacker. Because V8 operates within Chrome's sandboxed renderer process, the immediate impact of this vulnerability is not full system control but rather escape from that restricted environment. By leveraging type confusion to achieve arbitrary code execution inside the sandbox, the attacker gains the ability to execute native code or manipulate internal structures in a way that can lead to sandbox escape techniques such as heap spraying combined with ROP chains or JIT exploitation strategies. This progression transforms a client-side script injection into a high-severity remote code execution event capable of compromising the host system if subsequent privilege escalation steps are successfully executed by the attacker's payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly given its classification as High severity in Chromium security advisories. Users browsing the web with an affected version of Chrome remain at significant risk when interacting with untrusted content that triggers the specific type confusion conditions. The ability to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox undermines the fundamental isolation model designed to protect users from malicious websites. Even if full system compromise requires additional exploitation steps, the presence of this vulnerability significantly lowers the barrier for attackers aiming to deliver malware, steal sensitive data such as cookies and session tokens, or perform phishing attacks with higher fidelity by bypassing browser security features like Same-Origin Policy restrictions through sandbox escape.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate software updates to address the root cause within the V8 engine's type checking logic. Administrators and end-users must upgrade Google Chrome to version 151.0.7922.169 or later, where patches have been applied to enforce stricter runtime checks and prevent the misinterpretation of object types during execution. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, network-level controls such as web application firewalls can be configured to detect and block traffic containing known exploit patterns associated with V8 type confusion attacks, although this approach offers limited protection against zero-day variants or obfuscated payloads. Additionally, enabling Chrome's built-in sandbox protections and ensuring that all browser extensions are up-to-date helps maintain the integrity of the execution environment by limiting the potential impact should a vulnerability be successfully exploited in future instances.