CVE-2026-79009 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
UI misrepresentation in UI in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to spoof UI elements via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as a user interface misrepresentation flaw within Google Chrome versions preceding 152.0.7977.65 represents a significant risk vector primarily driven by social engineering tactics rather than direct code execution or memory corruption exploits. This issue stems from the browser's rendering engine failing to accurately display certain UI elements when processing specially crafted HTML content, allowing an attacker to manipulate the visual presentation of web pages in ways that deceive end users. The core technical flaw lies in how the Chromium-based layout and painting mechanisms handle specific CSS properties or DOM structures under particular conditions, leading to a discrepancy between what is rendered on screen and the actual underlying state of the application interface. This misrepresentation can manifest as altered button labels, hidden navigation elements, or fabricated security indicators that suggest a false sense of legitimacy for malicious content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability facilitates phishing attacks with heightened sophistication by enabling attackers to create fake login portals, banking interfaces, or administrative dashboards that appear authentic at first glance. When a user interacts with such a page, the visual spoofing can trick them into entering sensitive credentials, personal identifiable information, or financial data under the assumption they are communicating with a trusted entity. The severity is classified as low by Chromium security standards because it does not allow for arbitrary code execution, sandbox escape, or direct compromise of the host operating system. However, its impact on user trust and data confidentiality remains substantial, particularly in enterprise environments where employees may be targeted through spear-phishing campaigns designed to exploit this specific visual deception technique.
This type of vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-201, which defines insertion of sensitive information into an external entity for the purpose of unauthorized access or disclosure via UI manipulation, and is often associated with CWE-446 regarding unverified input in user interface elements that leads to security misinterpretations. In terms of offensive cybersecurity frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior falls under T1078 Valid Accounts when used to maintain persistence through spoofed interfaces or more accurately under T1566 Phishing where the technique relies on social engineering and visual deception rather than technical exploitation of software bugs in memory management. The attack vector is strictly remote but requires user interaction, specifically clicking on links or visiting malicious websites that host the crafted HTML payload designed to trigger the rendering anomaly.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on timely patching and user education. Organizations must ensure that all endpoints are updated to Google Chrome version 152.0.7977.65 or later, where these specific UI rendering inconsistencies have been addressed by the Chromium development team through corrections in the layout engine logic. Additionally, implementing strict Content Security Policy headers can help restrict the types of scripts and styles that can be loaded from untrusted origins, thereby reducing the attack surface available to attackers attempting to craft deceptive pages. User awareness training remains critical, emphasizing verification of URL authenticity and looking for subtle discrepancies in interface design even when a page appears legitimate. Security monitoring tools should also be configured to detect unusual patterns of user interaction with web forms that do not match expected behavioral baselines, providing an additional layer of defense against social engineering attempts leveraging this UI spoofing capability.