CVE-2026-78892 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Incorrect authorization in Chromoting in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a local attacker to bypass system access restrictions via a local program. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as an incorrect authorization flaw within the Chromoting component of Google Chrome on Windows operating systems prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a significant breach in access control mechanisms. This issue stems from improper validation of user privileges when handling remote desktop connections, allowing local programs that lack sufficient administrative rights to interact with system resources they should not be able to reach. The root cause lies in the failure of the Chromoting service to strictly enforce separation between untrusted local processes and sensitive system interfaces during authentication phases. This misconfiguration effectively creates a privilege escalation vector where an attacker operating under a standard user account can exploit logic errors or missing checks within the application layer to gain elevated permissions.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-269, which classifies Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities. The specific mechanism involves the Chromoting service accepting requests from local applications without adequately verifying that those applications possess the necessary security tokens or access rights required for such operations. By bypassing these system-level restrictions, a malicious actor can execute code within the context of a more privileged account, potentially leading to full control over the affected machine. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require remote exploitation; instead, it relies on local presence, which often implies that an attacker has already gained some level of foothold through phishing, malware infection, or physical access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation. Once a local program successfully bypasses these authorization checks, the attacker can manipulate system configurations, install additional malicious software, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors that are difficult to detect using standard security tools. The severity is rated as Medium by Chromium standards because while it allows for significant compromise of integrity and confidentiality, it typically requires initial local access rather than remote network exploitation. However, in environments where users frequently run untrusted software or where endpoint protection measures are weak, the risk profile increases substantially due to the ease with which an attacker can transition from a low-privilege shell to administrative control.
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations must ensure that all instances of Google Chrome and its associated components on Windows systems are updated to version 152.0.7977.65 or later immediately upon availability. This patch addresses the underlying authorization logic errors within Chromoting by implementing stricter validation checks for local process interactions. In addition to applying vendor patches, security teams should enforce least-privilege principles across all user accounts and restrict the execution of unsigned or untrusted binaries through application whitelisting solutions. Monitoring tools configured with ATT&CK technique T1055, which covers Process Injection and other privilege escalation methods, can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular audits of local service permissions and continuous monitoring for unauthorized elevation activities are essential defensive measures to prevent similar access control failures from being leveraged in future attacks.