CVE-2026-7982 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2026
Uninitialized Use in WebCodecs in Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 allowed a remote attacker to obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
This vulnerability represents an uninitialized memory access flaw in Google Chrome's WebCodecs implementation, specifically affecting versions prior to 148.0.7778.96. The issue stems from improper initialization of memory structures within the WebCodecs API which is designed to handle audio and video processing directly within web browsers. When a malicious actor crafts a specially constructed HTML page, the uninitialized memory values can be accessed through the WebCodecs interface, potentially exposing sensitive data from the browser process memory. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-457 category of "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and represents a classic information disclosure weakness that can lead to data leakage. The Chromium security severity rating of Medium indicates the potential for sensitive information exposure without direct execution capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the WebCodecs API's interaction with browser memory management. WebCodecs is a powerful browser API that enables developers to encode and decode audio and video content directly in the browser without relying on external libraries or plugins. When the API processes certain data structures, it fails to properly initialize memory variables before use, creating a window where uninitialized memory contents can be read by the JavaScript execution environment. This allows attackers to potentially extract information such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive data that may reside in the memory locations previously allocated for WebCodecs operations. The attack vector requires only a malicious webpage to be loaded in the browser, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through standard web browsing activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with footholds for more sophisticated attacks. When uninitialized memory contains remnants of previous data, attackers can potentially reconstruct sensitive information such as user credentials, encryption keys, or application state data that was previously stored in memory. This vulnerability particularly affects users who engage with untrusted web content, as the attack requires only a single visit to a malicious webpage to potentially harvest sensitive information. The risk is heightened in environments where users frequently access multiple web applications or services that may store sensitive data in browser memory. The vulnerability operates at the process level, meaning it can potentially access memory that contains data from other browser tabs or processes, expanding the potential scope of information leakage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to the patched version of Google Chrome, specifically version 148.0.7778.96 or later, which properly initializes the memory structures within the WebCodecs API. Organizations should implement automated patch management systems to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly. Browser vendors recommend enabling automatic updates where possible, as this vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction. Security teams should monitor for any related vulnerabilities in the WebCodecs API or similar browser components that may present similar uninitialized memory access patterns. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls or content filtering systems can help reduce exposure by blocking access to known malicious domains, though these measures are secondary to the primary patching requirement. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory initialization practices in browser security implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of browser APIs for uninitialized memory access patterns. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1566 for spearphishing through social engineering, as it can be delivered through malicious web content and potentially used as a stepping stone for more advanced attacks.