CVE-2026-79253 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Improper input validation in Network in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to leak sensitive information via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as an improper input validation flaw within the Network component of Google Chrome on Windows systems prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a significant risk vector for information disclosure attacks. This specific weakness stems from insufficient sanitization or boundary checking when processing network-related data structures, allowing maliciously crafted HTML content to exploit parsing inconsistencies within the browser engine. The severity is classified as Low by Chromium security standards, indicating that while the vulnerability is exploitable, it likely requires specific conditions or limited impact scope compared to critical memory corruption flaws such as buffer overflows or use-after-free errors. However, even low-severity vulnerabilities can have substantial real-world consequences when combined with effective social engineering tactics.
The operational mechanism of this exploit relies heavily on user interaction and deception. A remote attacker constructs a malicious HTML page designed to trigger the input validation failure within Chrome's network stack. When an unsuspecting victim visits this crafted webpage, typically lured through phishing emails, compromised websites, or deceptive advertisements, the browser processes the malformed data without adequate verification. This lack of rigorous checking allows the attacker to manipulate how the browser handles certain network requests or responses, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive internal states or leaked information that should remain isolated from web content. The reliance on social engineering underscores the importance of user awareness alongside technical controls, as the initial entry point is often a deliberate action by the victim rather than an automated exploit chain.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, which encompasses failures to verify that input data meets expected format, type, length, and range constraints before processing. In the context of web browsers, such flaws can lead to information leakage where sensitive data from other tabs or internal browser processes is exposed to untrusted web content. This scenario also maps closely to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if the input validation flaw allows for script execution that exfiltrates data, or more broadly to Data Exfiltration over Web Protocol techniques where stolen information is sent back to an attacker-controlled server via HTTP requests initiated by the compromised browser instance. The attack vector is classified as Remote with Social Engineering prerequisites, highlighting the dual nature of the threat involving both technical exploitation and human manipulation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage; it undermines the fundamental security model of web browsers known as same-origin policy isolation. If an attacker can successfully leverage improper input validation to bypass these isolations, they may gain access to cookies, local storage contents, or other session-related information belonging to authenticated sites visited by the user. This compromise erodes trust in the browsing environment and can facilitate further attacks such as account takeover or credential harvesting. Although the severity is rated low, the cumulative effect of multiple minor vulnerabilities often leads to significant breaches, making timely patching essential for maintaining a robust security posture.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate software updates to ensure all Windows-based Chrome installations are upgraded to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, where these input validation checks have been strengthened and corrected. Organizations should enforce automated update policies to minimize the window of exposure for end-user devices. Additionally, implementing browser hardening techniques such as disabling JavaScript on untrusted sites using content security policies or extension-based controls can reduce the attack surface available to social engineering campaigns. Security awareness training remains critical in this context, educating users to recognize and avoid suspicious links and unfamiliar web pages that may attempt to trigger such vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on browser-specific flaws should also be conducted to identify similar weaknesses before they are exploited by threat actors.