CVE-2026-79217 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Incorrect authorization in Mobile in Google Chrome on on iOS prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to bypass system access restrictions via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as an incorrect authorization flaw within the mobile version of Google Chrome for iOS, specifically affecting versions prior to 152.0.7977.65, represents a significant breach in access control mechanisms. This issue stems from a failure in the browser's internal logic to properly validate user privileges when processing certain requests or rendering content via crafted HTML pages. In modern web browsers, authorization checks are critical for ensuring that users can only perform actions and access resources appropriate to their current session state and permission level. When these checks are bypassed due to implementation errors, it allows remote attackers to manipulate the browser's behavior in unintended ways. The severity of this vulnerability is classified as Medium by the Chromium security team, indicating that while it does not typically lead directly to full system compromise or arbitrary code execution, it poses a tangible risk to user privacy and data integrity through unauthorized access patterns.
From a technical perspective, the flaw likely involves an inconsistency in how Chrome on iOS handles permission boundaries between different contexts within its rendering engine or JavaScript environment. By crafting specific HTML pages that exploit these inconsistencies, an attacker can trick the browser into executing actions or accessing sensitive interfaces without proper authentication or authorization verification. This type of vulnerability is often categorized under CWE-269, which denotes Improper Privilege Management, as it involves a failure to enforce required security policies regarding user roles and permissions. The attack vector is remote, meaning no physical access or prior compromise of the victim's device is necessary; instead, exploitation occurs simply by visiting a maliciously constructed webpage hosted on an external server. This highlights the persistent challenge browsers face in maintaining strict isolation between untrusted web content and privileged browser functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability centers around the potential for unauthorized data access or state manipulation within the browsing session. An attacker leveraging this flaw could potentially bypass system access restrictions, which may include accessing private tabs, reading sensitive form inputs that should be restricted by context, or manipulating application states in ways that compromise user privacy. While it does not grant direct control over the operating system, such breaches erode trust in the browser's security model and can lead to secondary attacks like session hijacking or cross-site request forgery if combined with other vulnerabilities. The ability to bypass access restrictions via a simple HTML page underscores the importance of rigorous input validation and strict enforcement of authorization policies within web applications and browsers alike.
To mitigate this risk, users are strongly advised to update Google Chrome on iOS to version 152.0.7977.65 or later immediately upon availability. This patch addresses the underlying logic errors that permitted the unauthorized access patterns described above. Additionally, organizations should enforce policies that encourage timely software updates across all mobile devices in their fleet. From a defensive posture perspective, employing browser security extensions or content blockers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting execution of potentially malicious scripts from untrusted sources. Furthermore, developers building web applications should adhere to strict authorization checks on the server side and implement robust Content Security Policies (CSP) to limit the impact if similar vulnerabilities are discovered in client-side software like browsers. This incident serves as a reminder that even medium-severity flaws can have significant implications for user security when they involve fundamental access control mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and privilege escalation within web-based environments.