CVE-2026-79229 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Uninitialized resource in ANGLE in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to read memory outside 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 ANGLE graphics library, present in versions of Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65, represents a significant risk vector for attackers who have already achieved partial system compromise through renderer process exploitation. ANGLE serves as a critical translation layer that converts OpenGL ES API calls into native platform-specific graphics APIs such as DirectX or Metal on Windows and macOS respectively. This architectural role makes it a high-value target because successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process, which typically operates outside the restrictive sandbox environment designed to isolate web content from the underlying operating system. The specific flaw involves an uninitialized resource within this translation layer, meaning that memory allocated for graphics operations was not properly initialized before being used or accessed by subsequent rendering commands issued via a crafted HTML page containing malicious JavaScript and WebGL code.
From a technical perspective, the core of this vulnerability lies in the failure to zero out or otherwise initialize specific data structures or buffers associated with ANGLE's internal state management. When an attacker crafts a webpage that triggers specific WebGL operations, they can manipulate these uninitialized memory regions. Because the values within these regions are indeterminate, relying on them for bounds checking, pointer arithmetic, or resource allocation decisions leads to unpredictable behavior. In this instance, the lack of initialization allowed the renderer process to perform read operations outside its allocated sandbox boundaries. This effectively bypasses the critical security boundary that Chrome enforces between untrusted web content and trusted system resources. The severity is classified as medium by Chromium standards because while it requires an initial compromise of the renderer process, the resulting ability to escape the sandbox escalates the threat level significantly, potentially allowing access to sensitive user data or further lateral movement within the host environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory disclosure. By reading memory outside the sandbox, a remote attacker can leak cryptographic keys, session cookies, autofill data, and other sensitive information stored in higher-privileged browser processes. Furthermore, such out-of-bounds reads often serve as precursors to more severe exploits like arbitrary read-write primitives or heap spraying techniques that facilitate full code execution. The attack vector is entirely remote and requires no user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted webpage, making it highly scalable for drive-by download attacks. This aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically through JavaScript in web browsers, and relates to MITRE CWE-457 Use of Uninitialized Variable, which describes situations where variables are used before being assigned a value, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited for security breaches.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating the browser software to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, where this initialization flaw has been corrected by ensuring all relevant resources in ANGLE are properly zeroed before use. For organizations unable to patch immediately, network-level controls such as web filtering proxies can be configured to block access to known malicious domains hosting exploit kits targeting browser vulnerabilities. Additionally, enabling Chrome’s Site Isolation feature enhances the sandbox boundaries further, making it more difficult for an attacker to leverage renderer compromises into broader system access. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual memory access patterns or unexpected network connections originating from browser processes, which may indicate active exploitation attempts against this class of vulnerabilities in older software versions still present in some enterprise environments.