CVE-2026-79048 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Out of bounds write in ANGLE in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as an out-of-bounds write within the ANGLE graphics library in Google Chrome represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's defense-in-depth architecture. ANGLE serves as the translation layer between web applications and native GPU drivers, converting OpenGL ES calls into DirectX or Vulkan commands to ensure cross-platform compatibility. When this component processes malformed input from a crafted HTML page, it fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before writing data to memory. This lack of rigorous bounds checking allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated limits of a heap-allocated buffer, leading to arbitrary code execution potential within the browser's sandboxed environment. The severity is classified as high because such memory corruption issues are frequently exploited in the wild using sophisticated techniques like heap spraying or use-after-free primitives to achieve stable shellcode deployment.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities where data is written past the end of a buffer. In the context of modern web browsers, these errors are particularly dangerous because they can corrupt adjacent memory structures, such as function pointers or object headers, allowing an attacker to redirect control flow. The attack vector involves a remote user visiting a maliciously crafted webpage that triggers the vulnerable code path within ANGLE during rendering operations. By carefully constructing the HTML and JavaScript payload, an adversary can manipulate the state of the graphics pipeline to cause the out-of-bounds write at a precise memory location. This precision is crucial for bypassing modern exploit mitigations like Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which are standard protections in Windows operating systems prior to version 152.0.7977.65 of Chrome.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it potentially allows for full remote code execution with the privileges of the browser process. Although Google Chrome employs a multi-process architecture where each tab runs in its own sandboxed renderer process, breaking out of this sandbox is often possible through chained exploits that leverage memory corruption bugs like this one to escape into higher-privilege processes or directly execute native code on the host system. This capability enables attackers to install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data stored locally by the browser, or use the compromised machine as a pivot point for further network attacks. The existence of such vulnerabilities highlights the complexity and risk inherent in integrating complex graphics libraries like ANGLE into security-critical applications where memory safety is paramount.
To mitigate this risk, users must ensure that Google Chrome is updated to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which includes patches for the underlying memory management issues within ANGLE. Security administrators should prioritize patching strategies that address browser vulnerabilities promptly due to their high prevalence in drive-by download attacks and web-based exploit kits. Additionally, enabling strict content security policies and disabling unnecessary plugins can reduce the attack surface presented by rendered pages. From a defensive engineering standpoint, this incident reinforces the importance of static analysis tools and fuzz testing for graphics libraries used in browsers. The vulnerability also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for client execution, emphasizing that web-based attacks remain a primary vector for initial access and subsequent privilege escalation on Windows systems. Continuous monitoring for anomalous browser behavior and keeping all software components up to date are essential practices to defend against such memory corruption exploits.