CVE-2026-95281 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
Buffer overflow in ANGLE in Google Chrome on on Android prior to 154.0.8037.57 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Critical)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified within the ANGLE graphics library component of Google Chrome on Android represents a critical buffer overflow condition that undermines the browser's core security architecture. ANGLE serves as an abstraction layer that translates OpenGL ES API calls into native platform APIs such as Vulkan, Metal, or Direct3D, enabling web content to render complex 2D and 3D graphics efficiently across different operating systems. When processing specially crafted HTML pages containing malicious JavaScript or WebGL shaders, the application fails to properly validate memory boundaries during buffer operations. This lack of rigorous input validation allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated limits of a fixed-size buffer in memory. The severity is classified as critical by Chromium security standards because it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user systems through remote code execution capabilities.
From a technical perspective, this flaw falls under the category of improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command or data structure, specifically mapping to CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input. The exploitation mechanism relies on overwriting adjacent memory locations with attacker-controlled values, which can include return addresses, function pointers, or other control flow metadata stored on the stack or heap. By carefully crafting the payload within the HTML page, a remote attacker can manipulate these overwritten values to redirect program execution to arbitrary code injected into the process memory space. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web browsers because it bypasses standard input sanitization checks that are typically applied at higher levels of the application logic, targeting lower-level system libraries where bounds checking may be less stringent or incorrectly implemented during high-performance graphics rendering tasks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption to full remote code execution outside the browser's sandbox environment. Modern browsers rely heavily on process isolation and sandboxing techniques to contain potential exploits within a restricted context that limits access to sensitive system resources, file systems, and network interfaces. However, when an attacker successfully executes arbitrary code via this buffer overflow in ANGLE, they can escape these protective boundaries. This allows the malicious actor to perform actions with elevated privileges relative to the browser process, such as installing persistent malware, exfiltrating user credentials stored by the browser, or pivoting further into a local network. The ability to execute code outside the sandbox effectively neutralizes one of the most important defense-in-depth mechanisms employed in modern web browsing software, leaving end-users vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that do not require physical access or social engineering beyond hosting a malicious webpage.
In terms of threat modeling and adversary behavior, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage vulnerabilities in client-side applications like web browsers to execute code on the target system. It also relates to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if the executed payload involves scripting languages, and potentially T1047 Windows or Linux Native Application Execution depending on how the arbitrary code is invoked post-exploitation. The attack vector is classified as remote with low complexity, meaning that an attacker does not need special conditions to exploit this flaw other than convincing a user to visit a malicious website containing the crafted HTML page. This ease of exploitation makes it a high-priority target for automated scanning tools and advanced persistent threat groups seeking initial access vectors against Android-based devices running older versions of Chrome.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate software updates, as Google released patch version 154.0.8037.57 to address this specific memory safety issue within the ANGLE component. Administrators and end-users must ensure that their browsers are updated to this version or later to eliminate the root cause of the buffer overflow. Beyond updating, organizations should implement strict content security policies (CSP) to restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit sources from which resources can be loaded, thereby reducing the attack surface for cross-site scripting vectors that might trigger such vulnerabilities. Additionally, enabling browser features like site isolation ensures that even if a vulnerability is exploited in one tab or process, the impact is contained within that specific context and cannot easily escalate to other tabs or system-level processes. Security awareness training should also be conducted to educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites, although technical controls remain the primary defense against such automated exploitation attempts.