CVE-2026-87642 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
Uninitialized resource in WebGL in Google Chrome prior to 153.0.8010.36 allowed a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as an uninitialized resource issue within the WebGL implementation of Google Chrome represents a significant memory safety flaw that was resolved in version 153.0.8010.36 and later releases. This defect stems from improper initialization of internal data structures or buffers used during graphics rendering operations, specifically those governed by the OpenGL ES API exposed through the browser's WebGL interface. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that triggers specific WebGL contexts or shader compilations, the application may access memory locations that have not been properly zeroed out or allocated with secure defaults. This lack of initialization allows sensitive information residing in adjacent memory regions to be read and subsequently exfiltrated by the executing script. The severity is classified as medium within the Chromium security framework, reflecting its potential for data leakage without necessarily leading to arbitrary code execution on the host system.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns closely with CWE-457, which describes the use of an uninitialized variable or resource. In the context of browser-based WebGL, memory management is complex due to the interaction between JavaScript engines and low-level graphics drivers. If a buffer object or uniform array is referenced before its contents are explicitly defined by the application logic, it may retain residual data from previous operations or other processes within the same process space. This behavior creates an information disclosure vector where cross-origin data can be leaked across security boundaries that should otherwise isolate web content. The attack requires user interaction in the form of visiting a specially crafted webpage, which loads and executes malicious JavaScript code leveraging WebGL commands to trigger the uninitialized read condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability centers on privacy violations and potential session hijacking or credential theft if sensitive data happens to reside in the affected memory regions at the time of exploitation. While the immediate risk is limited to information leakage rather than full system compromise, it undermines the same-origin policy that protects web applications from unauthorized access to their resources. Attackers can use this technique to extract cookies, authentication tokens, or other confidential payloads stored in browser memory by WebGL contexts. This capability poses a direct threat to user security and data integrity, particularly on websites handling sensitive financial or personal information where even minor leaks can have severe consequences for the affected individuals.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading Google Chrome to version 153.0.8010.36 or any subsequent release that includes patches addressing this specific memory safety issue. Developers and security administrators should ensure that all client-side browsers are kept up-to-date with the latest security updates provided by vendors, as these releases routinely address such low-level vulnerabilities in rendering engines. Additionally, web application developers can implement strict Content Security Policy headers to restrict inline script execution and limit the domains from which resources can be loaded, thereby reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Regular auditing of WebGL implementations for proper resource initialization practices is also recommended to prevent similar flaws in custom or third-party graphics libraries integrated into web applications.