CVE-2026-85047 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/03/2026
Improper input validation in Transactions Platform in Google Chrome on on iOS prior to 152.0.7977.82 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 • 09/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as an improper input validation flaw within the Transactions Platform of Google Chrome for iOS represents a significant breach in the browser's defense-in-depth architecture, specifically targeting the isolation mechanisms that protect user data and system integrity. This issue existed prior to version 152.0.7977.82 and stems from insufficient sanitization or type-checking procedures when processing inputs within the transaction handling subsystems. In modern web browsers, particularly those running on mobile operating systems like iOS where sandboxing is critical for security, any failure in input validation can allow maliciously crafted data to bypass expected constraints. The Transactions Platform likely handles sensitive financial or authentication-related data exchanges between web pages and native application interfaces, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges from the restricted browser context to the broader operating system environment.
From a technical perspective, improper input validation often manifests as a failure to correctly interpret user-supplied data types, lengths, or formats before they are processed by underlying code modules. In this specific instance, an attacker could construct a malicious HTML page containing specially crafted elements designed to exploit these validation gaps. When a victim visits the site using the affected version of Chrome on iOS, the browser processes the malformed input without adequate checks. This allows the injected data to interact with internal APIs or memory structures in unintended ways, potentially leading to buffer overflows, type confusion errors, or logic bypasses that circumvent security boundaries. The severity is classified as Medium by Chromium standards because while it requires user interaction such as visiting a crafted page, the potential consequence of executing arbitrary code outside the sandbox elevates its risk profile significantly compared to standard cross-site scripting issues which are typically contained within the browser's execution context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the nature of the Transactions Platform and the mobile environment in which it operates. If an attacker successfully exploits this flaw, they can achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Chrome process or potentially higher if sandbox escape techniques are combined with other vulnerabilities. On iOS, where applications run in strict sandboxes, escaping that container allows access to sensitive user data including cookies, stored passwords, financial information, and device-specific identifiers. This compromises not only the confidentiality and integrity of individual user sessions but also poses a broader threat to privacy and financial security. Attackers could use this foothold to install persistent malware, perform man-in-the-middle attacks against subsequent browsing sessions, or pivot into other applications on the same device that share data containers with Chrome.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation in the Common Weakness Enumeration database, which describes failures where software does not properly validate input before processing it. Furthermore, from a threat modeling perspective using the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit scenario relates to techniques involving Initial Access through spearphishing or drive-by downloads (T1566) and potentially Privilege Escalation if the sandbox escape is fully realized (T1068). The exploitation vector relies on social engineering elements such as convincing a user to visit a malicious site, highlighting the importance of both technical controls and user awareness.
Mitigation for this vulnerability primarily involves updating Google Chrome on iOS to version 152.0.7977.82 or later, where these input validation checks have been strengthened. Developers should ensure that all inputs interacting with critical subsystems like Transactions are rigorously validated against allowlists of expected formats and types rather than relying solely on deny-lists which may miss novel attack vectors. Implementing strict content security policies can also help mitigate the impact by restricting how scripts interact with sensitive APIs. For end-users, maintaining up-to-date software is the most effective defense, as browser vendors continuously patch such flaws to preserve the integrity of their sandboxed environments and protect users from remote code execution attacks facilitated through web-based vectors.