CVE-2026-79004 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2026
Out of bounds read in Media in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to read memory outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as an out-of-bounds read within Google Chrome's media processing subsystem represents a significant breach of browser isolation principles, specifically affecting versions prior to 152.0.7977.65. This flaw resides in the complex code responsible for parsing and rendering multimedia content, which is critical for modern web applications but also presents a large attack surface due to its complexity and frequent interaction with external data sources. The core technical issue involves improper boundary checks during memory access operations within the media pipeline. When processing crafted HTML pages that trigger specific media decoding or playback routines, the application fails to validate whether the requested memory offset falls within the allocated buffer limits. This oversight allows the renderer process to read from memory locations that are not intended for its use, effectively bypassing standard array bounds checking mechanisms inherent in the C++ implementation of these components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the context in which it occurs. Although Chrome employs a multi-process architecture with sandboxed renderers designed to limit the damage of exploits, an out-of-bounds read can still be leveraged by an attacker who has already achieved code execution within the renderer process. By carefully crafting HTML and JavaScript payloads that trigger this memory leak condition, an adversary can extract sensitive data from adjacent memory regions belonging to other processes or system structures. This capability facilitates a sandbox escape, allowing the threat actor to transition from a restricted environment with limited privileges to one where they have broader access to user files, cookies, session tokens, and potentially kernel-level information depending on the specific memory layout and operating system protections in place. The severity is classified as medium by Chromium standards because while it requires initial compromise of the renderer or sophisticated exploitation techniques to achieve full impact, the resulting privilege escalation poses a direct threat to user confidentiality and integrity.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities where software reads past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. This misclassification often stems from insufficient validation of input parameters that dictate memory access patterns during media decoding operations. In terms of offensive security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this exploit technique corresponds to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for initial execution within the renderer, followed by T1610 Sandbox Escape or T1074 Data Staged via Local Process Memory Dumping depending on how the leaked data is utilized. The attacker would likely use techniques associated with T1083 File and Directory Discovery to map out accessible resources after escaping the sandbox, leveraging the read primitive to gather intelligence for further lateral movement or persistent access establishment.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the vendor-provided security patches that update Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which corrects the boundary validation logic within the media subsystem. Organizations should enforce automated patch management policies to ensure rapid deployment of browser updates across all endpoints. Additionally, users can reduce their exposure by disabling unnecessary plugins and restricting permissions for sites that require access to multimedia features unless absolutely necessary. Implementing strict Content Security Policies (CSP) helps mitigate the risk of executing malicious scripts within HTML pages, thereby reducing the likelihood of triggering such vulnerabilities through crafted web content. Regular security awareness training regarding suspicious links and untrusted media sources also serves as a vital defense layer against social engineering tactics that might be used to deliver these exploit payloads.