CVE-2026-79003 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Incorrect authorization in Device in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to bypass system access restrictions via a crafted HTML page. (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 device management subsystem of Google Chrome 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 interacting with hardware or system-level APIs exposed by the browser environment. In modern web applications, browsers often provide interfaces that allow websites to request permissions for accessing device features such as cameras, microphones, location services, and USB devices. The flaw lies in the logic governing these requests, where the enforcement of authorization policies fails to correctly distinguish between legitimate user-initiated actions and automated or scripted attempts by malicious actors. This misconfiguration allows a remote attacker to bypass system access restrictions that are typically enforced by the operating system or browser security sandboxing mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily driven by its reliance on social engineering tactics rather than purely technical exploitation chains involving memory corruption or code injection. An attacker leverages a crafted HTML page designed to mimic legitimate services or trigger specific user interactions that inadvertently grant elevated permissions. By exploiting the incorrect authorization logic, the malicious webpage can successfully request and obtain access to sensitive device functionalities without proper user consent or with insufficiently validated consent prompts. This capability enables the unauthorized collection of personal data, surveillance through camera or microphone activation, or potential interaction with connected hardware devices such as USB peripherals which could be used for further network infiltration if physical proximity is involved. The severity rating of Medium reflects that while the impact can be severe depending on the specific device features accessed, it requires user interaction to trigger effectively, limiting its scope compared to fully remote code execution vulnerabilities.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which denotes Improper Privilege Management, specifically in contexts where access control decisions are not enforced correctly during runtime operations. It also relates closely to CWE-749, Exposed Dangerous Method or Function, as the browser exposes internal device management APIs that were not adequately secured against unauthorized invocation. In terms of adversary behavior mapping under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this flaw facilitates techniques associated with Initial Access via Spearphishing Link and subsequent Defense Evasion by bypassing application-level controls. The attacker utilizes social engineering to manipulate the victim into interacting with the crafted content, thereby circumventing standard security boundaries that rely on explicit user authorization workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate updates to Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, where these access control checks have been corrected and hardened against unauthorized invocation patterns. Organizations should enforce strict browser update policies across all endpoints to ensure that known privilege escalation flaws are patched promptly. Additionally, users must be educated on the risks of interacting with untrusted web content, particularly pages requesting sensitive device permissions. Implementing robust endpoint detection and response solutions can help monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of such exploitation attempts, such as unexpected access requests from browser processes or unusual network traffic patterns associated with data exfiltration following successful privilege bypass. Regular security audits focusing on permission handling logic in web applications are also recommended to identify similar architectural weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors leveraging social engineering vectors.