CVE-2026-11297 Overview
CVE-2026-11297 is an input validation vulnerability affecting Google Chrome's Reader Mode on Android versions prior to 149.0.7827.53. The flaw allows a local attacker to bypass navigation restrictions through a malicious file. The issue stems from insufficient validation of untrusted input handled by the Reader Mode component. Google classifies the Chromium security severity as Low, while the NVD assigns a higher CVSS rating due to the impact on integrity and availability. The weakness is tracked under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Critical Impact
A local attacker can bypass Chrome on Android's navigation restrictions by delivering a malicious file, undermining the security boundary enforced by Reader Mode.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome on Android prior to 149.0.7827.53
- Google Android (host operating system for the affected Chrome client)
- Chromium-based browsers consuming the affected Reader Mode component
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-05 - CVE-2026-11297 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-08 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-11297
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Reader Mode on Android. Reader Mode renders simplified versions of web pages by extracting article content and stripping non-essential elements. To do this safely, Reader Mode enforces navigation restrictions that limit which URIs and content sources it can load.
CVE-2026-11297 breaks that enforcement. Reader Mode fails to validate untrusted input supplied through a malicious file, allowing a local attacker to traverse navigation boundaries the component should block. The exploit requires local access, meaning the attacker must place a crafted file where Chrome on Android will process it.
The NVD CVSS vector indicates no impact on confidentiality but high impact on both integrity and availability. An attacker who successfully bypasses navigation restrictions can influence what content Reader Mode loads and renders, which can be chained with other primitives to alter trusted UI state or destabilize the browser session.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation [CWE-20] in the Reader Mode navigation path. Chrome treats input from a local file as constrained when it is not, allowing the file to specify navigation targets that the security model should reject. The validation layer does not normalize or canonicalize the input before applying the restriction policy.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local delivery of a malicious file to an Android device running a vulnerable Chrome build. When a user opens the file in Reader Mode, Chrome parses the attacker-controlled input and follows navigation that bypasses the intended restriction. No authentication or user interaction beyond opening the file is required by the CVSS metrics. See the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry and the Google Chrome Update Blog for vendor context.
No verified public proof-of-concept is available. The vulnerability mechanism is described in prose without synthetic code.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11297
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome on Android builds reporting a version string lower than 149.0.7827.53 in chrome://version.
- Local files with unusual MIME types or crafted HTML payloads that invoke Reader Mode through intent:// or content:// URIs.
- Reader Mode rendering content from origins that should be blocked by Chrome's navigation policy.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Android endpoints and flag devices where the installed Chrome package version is below the fixed release.
- Inspect mobile device management (MDM) telemetry for sideloaded files delivered through messaging, email, or file-sharing apps shortly before Chrome activity spikes.
- Correlate Reader Mode navigation events with the source file path to identify reads from user-writable directories such as /sdcard/Download/.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Android browser and intent telemetry into a centralized analytics platform for version drift and anomaly review.
- Alert on Chrome crashes or unexpected navigation events generated while Reader Mode is active.
- Track outbound network connections initiated immediately after a local file is opened in Chrome to detect post-bypass activity.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11297
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome on Android to version 149.0.7827.53 or later through the Google Play Store.
- Enforce minimum Chrome version policies through MDM to block use of vulnerable builds.
- Restrict installation of untrusted files on managed Android devices and block sideloading where feasible.
Patch Information
Google addressed the vulnerability in Chrome 149.0.7827.53. Patch details and the corresponding release notes are published on the Google Chrome Update Blog. The upstream fix is referenced in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry. Organizations distributing Chromium-based mobile browsers should rebase on the patched commit.
Workarounds
- Disable Reader Mode on managed Android profiles until the patched Chrome version is deployed.
- Block opening local HTML and document files in Chrome by associating those file types with a vetted viewer application.
- Apply Android work profile policies that prevent third-party applications from passing files into Chrome through share intents.
# Verify the installed Chrome version on an Android device via ADB
adb shell dumpsys package com.android.chrome | grep versionName
# Enforce a minimum Chrome version through an MDM configuration policy (example key)
# Policy: MinimumChromeVersion = 149.0.7827.53
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
