CVE-2026-7977 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2026
Inappropriate implementation in Canvas in Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 allowed a remote attacker to bypass same origin policy via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's canvas implementation that enabled remote attackers to circumvent the same origin policy through maliciously crafted HTML pages. The issue stems from improper handling of cross-origin resource sharing within the canvas API, specifically affecting Chrome versions prior to 148.0.7778.96. The vulnerability allows attackers to extract pixel data from canvas elements that should be restricted due to cross-origin access policies, effectively breaking down the fundamental web security model that protects users from malicious cross-site scripting attacks.
The technical implementation flaw resides in how Chrome processes canvas data when elements are loaded from different origins. When a webpage attempts to read pixel data from a canvas element that contains content from a different domain, the browser should enforce strict access controls to prevent information leakage. However, this vulnerability in the canvas handling mechanism allowed attackers to bypass these restrictions and access sensitive data that should have been protected by the same origin policy. The flaw specifically impacts the getImageData and toDataURL functions within the canvas API, where the security checks are insufficient to prevent unauthorized data extraction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a means to perform cross-origin data exfiltration without user interaction. Attackers could craft malicious HTML pages that load images or other content from trusted domains into canvas elements and then extract pixel information that might contain sensitive data or reveal information about the underlying resources. This capability could be exploited to gather user-specific information, identify patterns in web applications, or even extract data from other domains that should be protected. The medium severity classification reflects the potential for information disclosure and the ability to perform unauthorized data access across domain boundaries.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper information exposure, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage. The security implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential reconnaissance activities that could aid in more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including prompt browser updates to version 148.0.7778.96 or later, along with monitoring for suspicious canvas-related activities in web applications. Additional protective measures include implementing strict content security policies and regular security auditing of web applications that utilize canvas functionality to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.