CVE-2026-79155 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Race condition in FileSystem in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially execute arbitrary code outside 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 CVE-2024-1385 represents a critical race condition within the file system handling mechanisms of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.65. This flaw specifically impacts scenarios where an attacker has already achieved code execution within the renderer process, which is typically isolated from the rest of the operating system by sandboxing techniques. The core technical issue stems from a timing discrepancy in how the browser manages file operations and state transitions during concurrent access or rapid sequential requests. When multiple threads or processes interact with the same file resource without proper synchronization primitives such as mutexes or atomic locks, the application may proceed to execute actions based on stale or inconsistent data states. This race condition allows an attacker who has exploited a separate vulnerability within the renderer process to manipulate these timing windows and bypass security controls that are designed to restrict access to sensitive system resources.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-362, which defines concurrent execution using shared resources with improper synchronization. In the context of browser architecture, the renderer processes operate in a restricted environment intended to prevent arbitrary code execution on the host machine. However, when interacting with local file systems or networked storage through APIs like File System Access API or older NPAPI plugins, insufficient validation of file states during rapid operations can lead to privilege escalation. The attacker crafts an HTML page that triggers specific file system calls in a precise sequence designed to exploit the window between state verification and actual execution. By carefully controlling the timing of these requests, often through JavaScript loops or asynchronous callbacks, the malicious code forces the browser into an inconsistent state where security checks are bypassed, allowing access to files or operations outside the sandbox boundary.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation from a low-privilege renderer process to full system compromise. Although the initial entry point requires compromising the renderer, which itself often requires exploiting another vulnerability such as a use-after-free or type confusion in V8 JavaScript engine, the subsequent exploitation of this race condition allows lateral movement within the host environment. An attacker could potentially read sensitive user data stored locally, modify configuration files, or execute arbitrary binaries on the operating system. This effectively neutralizes the primary defense mechanism of modern web browsers, which relies heavily on process isolation and sandboxing to contain damage from malicious websites. The Chromium security team has classified this issue with a high severity rating due to its potential to lead to remote code execution under specific conditions where an attacker can influence renderer behavior through social engineering or drive-by download techniques that trigger the initial renderer compromise.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which includes patches for this race condition by implementing stricter synchronization mechanisms and enhanced validation checks within the file system module. For organizations unable to update immediately due to compatibility constraints, network-level controls such as strict Content Security Policy headers can help mitigate some attack vectors that lead to renderer compromise in the first place. Additionally, disabling unnecessary browser features like automatic plugin execution or restricting access to local file APIs via enterprise policies can reduce the attack surface. Monitoring for unusual process behavior and ensuring that endpoint detection and response solutions are configured to alert on unexpected child processes spawned by Chrome instances provides an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge in maintaining robust sandbox boundaries when complex interactions with operating system resources occur. It serves as a reminder that even within isolated environments, improper handling of shared state can lead to significant security breaches. Security teams should prioritize patch management for browser components and regularly review application whitelisting policies to ensure that only authorized processes are permitted to interact with critical file systems. The integration of this fix into the Chromium codebase reinforces the importance of rigorous testing for concurrency issues in high-performance web applications, ensuring that performance optimizations do not inadvertently introduce race conditions that undermine security architectures defined by standards such as those outlined in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpretation within compromised environments.