CVE-2026-79072 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Improper state validation in Performance in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to potentially read memory 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 improper state validation issue within the Performance module of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a significant breach in browser isolation mechanisms. This flaw stems from inadequate checks on internal object states during performance-related operations, allowing for unexpected interactions between different security contexts. Specifically, the defect enables a remote attacker who crafts a malicious HTML page to exploit this state inconsistency. By triggering specific sequences of events within the Performance API or related rendering pipelines, an adversary can manipulate how Chrome handles memory allocation and access permissions for certain objects. This manipulation bypasses standard sandboxing protections that are designed to restrict untrusted web content from accessing sensitive system resources or other process memories.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of improper state validation, which is often associated with CWE-662: Improper Synchronization and CWE-367: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) race conditions depending on the exact implementation details of the performance metrics collection. The core issue lies in the failure to verify that an object remains in a safe state throughout its lifecycle, particularly when transitioning between different execution contexts or during asynchronous operations. When these checks are missing or flawed, it creates a window where memory addresses can be dereferenced incorrectly. This leads to out-of-bounds reads, allowing data from adjacent memory regions to be exposed to the attacker-controlled environment. Such behavior is characteristic of use-after-free scenarios or heap corruption issues that have not been properly mitigated by bounds checking mechanisms within the browser engine.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution and information disclosure. Although classified with a High severity rating in Chromium, the ability to read memory inside the sandbox effectively breaks the fundamental security model of modern web browsers. Sandboxing relies on strict isolation between renderer processes and the main browser process or other renderers. By leaking sensitive data from within this isolated environment, an attacker can potentially exfiltrate cookies, session tokens, autofill data, or even cryptographic keys stored in memory. Furthermore, if combined with other vulnerabilities such as type confusion bugs, this information leak could serve as a primitive for constructing more complex exploits that achieve arbitrary code execution on the victim's machine. This undermines user trust and compromises the confidentiality of personal and corporate data accessed through the browser.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating to the patched version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which includes fixes for these state validation checks within the Performance module. Organizations should enforce automated patch management policies to ensure that all endpoints running Google Chrome are updated promptly upon release of security patches. Additionally, deploying browser isolation technologies such as Microsoft Edge IE Mode with sandboxing or third-party containerization solutions can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual memory access patterns or suspicious network activity originating from the browser process. Aligning remediation efforts with MITRE ATT&CK techniques, particularly T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter if code execution is achieved, helps in mapping this vulnerability to broader threat intelligence frameworks for better detection and response planning.