CVE-2026-79230 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Improper input validation in ANGLE in Google Chrome on on Mac 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: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified within the ANGLE graphics library, which is integrated into Google Chrome on macOS prior to version 152.0.7977.65, represents a critical failure in input validation mechanisms. This flaw allows for potential arbitrary code execution outside of the browser's sandbox environment when an attacker successfully lures a user to visit a specially crafted HTML page. The ANGLE library serves as a translation layer that converts OpenGL ES API calls into native graphics APIs such as Metal on macOS, Vulkan, or Direct3D. By exploiting improper input validation within this component, attackers can manipulate the rendering pipeline in ways that bypass standard security boundaries established by the browser's multi-process architecture and sandboxing policies.
From a technical perspective, the core issue lies in how user-supplied data is processed before being passed to lower-level graphics drivers or system libraries. When an HTML page containing malicious JavaScript triggers specific WebGL operations, the ANGLE library fails to adequately sanitize or validate certain parameters related to buffer sizes, array indices, or shader inputs. This lack of rigorous checking can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities such as heap overflows or use-after-free conditions within the graphics processing context. Because these operations occur in a privileged process responsible for hardware acceleration and rendering, successful exploitation grants the attacker code execution capabilities that are not constrained by the restrictive permissions applied to standard web content processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential to facilitate sandbox escape. In modern browser architectures, the renderer process operates within a tight security sandbox designed to limit access to sensitive system resources and user data. If an attacker can execute arbitrary code outside this sandbox through the ANGLE component, they effectively gain control over the underlying operating system context associated with that privileged process. This could allow for further exploitation steps such as installing malware, stealing credentials stored in memory, or pivoting to other systems on the network depending on the user's privileges and connected services. The medium severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects both the complexity required to exploit the flaw and the high impact of a successful sandbox escape.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, as the root cause is the failure to verify that input data meets expected constraints before processing. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to execution within privileged contexts and potential privilege escalation via local exploits or binary planting if the attacker can leverage the elevated process context for further persistence. The attack vector is classified as remote, meaning it does not require physical access or prior authentication on the target system, relying instead on social engineering tactics such as phishing emails or malicious websites that prompt users to visit crafted pages containing exploit code.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later where these input validation checks have been strengthened and patched by the Chromium security team. Organizations should ensure automated update policies are in place for all endpoints running macOS to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, users can reduce risk by disabling hardware acceleration if immediate patching is not possible, although this may degrade performance for graphics-intensive web applications. Security monitoring tools should be configured to detect anomalous behavior from browser processes attempting to access sensitive system resources or spawning unexpected child processes, which could indicate an active exploitation attempt of this vulnerability.