CVE-2026-79221 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Uninitialized resource in Dawn 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: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as an uninitialized resource issue within the Dawn component of Google Chrome represents a significant class of defects often associated with improper initialization of system resources or data structures before they are accessed by subsequent operations. In this specific instance, located in Chromium prior to version 152.0.7977.65, the flaw stems from a scenario where memory allocated for graphics processing tasks is utilized without being properly zeroed out or initialized with valid default values. This oversight creates an opportunity for information disclosure, as the uninitialized memory may contain residual data from previous operations that were not securely cleared before reuse. The Dawn component serves as Chrome's implementation of the WebGPU API, which provides a low-level interface to graphics and compute hardware on the web platform. Because this component operates at a lower level than typical JavaScript execution contexts, any failure in its internal state management can have profound implications for browser security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability centers on the potential for a remote attacker to read memory inside the sandboxed environment through a crafted HTML page. By hosting or directing a victim to a malicious webpage containing specially constructed code that triggers the uninitialized resource condition, an attacker could exploit the flaw to leak sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. This type of attack falls under the category of out-of-bounds reads or use-after-free scenarios where the boundary checks fail due to incorrect state initialization. The ability to read arbitrary memory within the sandbox is particularly dangerous because it can serve as a stepping stone for more complex attacks, such as bypassing browser security mechanisms like Site Isolation or extracting credentials and session tokens stored in memory. Although classified with a medium severity rating by Chromium's internal metrics, the potential for information leakage remains a critical concern due to its direct impact on user privacy and data integrity.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-457, which describes the use of an uninitialized variable or resource. This weakness occurs when software uses a value before it has been initialized, leading to unpredictable behavior depending on what data happens to reside in that memory location at runtime. Furthermore, the exploitation technique maps to MITRE ATT&CK tactic T1003, specifically Credential Dumping via Memory Access techniques like LSASS or process memory dumping, although adapted here for browser sandbox escape contexts. The attack vector is classified as remote (ATT&CK T1190), requiring no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site, which increases the likelihood of successful exploitation in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 152.0.7977.65 or later, where this specific initialization flaw has been addressed by developers ensuring that all resources allocated within the Dawn component are properly initialized before use. For organizations unable to update immediately due to compatibility constraints, deploying browser hardening policies and restricting execution of untrusted scripts can reduce exposure. Additionally, enabling advanced security features such as Site Isolation ensures that even if memory is leaked, it remains confined to a single origin context, limiting the scope of potential data exfiltration. Continuous monitoring for anomalous network traffic originating from browser processes may also help detect exploitation attempts in real-time, providing an additional layer of defense against this class of vulnerabilities.