CVE-2026-79189 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Out of bounds write in ANGLE in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
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 prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. ANGLE, which stands for Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine, serves as a translation layer between web applications and native GPU drivers, converting OpenGL ES calls into DirectX or Metal APIs depending on the host operating system. This component is integral to rendering complex graphics in modern browsers, including WebGL content. The specific flaw involves an improper validation of array indices or buffer boundaries during memory allocation operations within this library. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing specially designed JavaScript and WebGL shaders, they can trigger a condition where the application writes data beyond the allocated limits of a heap-allocated buffer. This type of error is classified under CWE-787 as an out-of-bounds write vulnerability, which allows for arbitrary memory modification rather than just reading sensitive information.
The operational impact of this flaw is severe because it facilitates potential code execution outside the browser's sandbox environment. Modern browsers rely heavily on process isolation and sandboxing to contain any exploits within a restricted context that lacks access to critical system resources or user data. However, an out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent memory structures such as function pointers, virtual table pointers, or heap metadata. By carefully crafting the payload, an attacker can manipulate these corrupted values to redirect execution flow to shellcode injected into the process memory. This effectively bypasses the sandbox protections that are designed to prevent arbitrary code execution from untrusted web content. The Chromium security team has rated this issue as High severity due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread use of WebGL in modern web applications, making it a likely target for drive-by download attacks or malicious ad networks.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, specifically within the context of browser-based exploitation chains. Attackers often leverage such memory corruption bugs as part of a larger exploit chain that may include sandbox escapes to gain higher privileges on the victim's machine. The lack of robust bounds checking in legacy or complex graphics libraries like ANGLE highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining security across large codebases with significant native C++ components. While modern browsers employ various mitigations such as Control Flow Integrity and Data Execution Prevention, sophisticated attackers can still find ways to bypass these defenses if memory corruption vulnerabilities are present. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely via a crafted HTML page means that no user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site is required, significantly increasing the risk profile for organizations deploying Chrome in enterprise environments or for individual users browsing untrusted websites.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching of the browser software to version 152.0.7977.65 or later where this issue has been resolved by developers through enhanced input validation and stricter boundary checks within the ANGLE library. Organizations should enforce automated update policies to ensure all endpoints are running the latest stable release of Google Chrome. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting can help prevent the execution of unauthorized binaries if an exploit is successful. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise associated with WebGL-based exploits and consider deploying browser isolation solutions or zero-trust architectures that limit the blast radius of any potential breach. Regular security audits of third-party libraries integrated into web applications are also recommended to identify similar memory safety issues before they can be exploited in the wild.