CVE-2026-13906: Google Chrome Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-13906 Overview

CVE-2026-13906 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] in the Codecs component of Google Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.47. A remote attacker can exploit this flaw by serving a crafted HTML page to a victim, causing Chrome to read memory beyond the intended buffer boundary. Successful exploitation leaks potentially sensitive information from process memory. Google classified the Chromium security severity as Medium. The issue requires user interaction, as the target must load the attacker-controlled page. No public exploit or proof-of-concept is available at the time of publication, and CISA has not added the flaw to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can leak sensitive data from Chrome's renderer memory by luring users to a malicious HTML page, potentially exposing session tokens, credentials, or cross-origin data.

Affected Products

Google Chrome (Desktop) versions prior to 150.0.7871.47
Chromium-based browsers incorporating the vulnerable Codecs component
All operating systems supported by the Chrome Stable channel

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-13906 published to NVD
2026-07-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-13906

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Codecs subsystem, which handles decoding of media and image content embedded in web pages. An out-of-bounds read occurs when the codec parser processes malformed input and accesses memory outside the bounds of an allocated buffer. The read operation returns adjacent process memory to the calling routine, where it can be reflected back to attacker-controlled JavaScript or rendered content. The attack executes remotely across the network, requires no authentication, and depends on the victim opening a crafted HTML page. Impact is limited to confidentiality, with no integrity or availability effects.

Root Cause

The defect stems from missing or insufficient bounds checking within a codec parsing routine. When the codec processes attacker-supplied media data, it computes an offset or length value that exceeds the true size of the underlying buffer. The subsequent read returns uninitialized or previously allocated memory. This class of defect is tracked as CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read).

Attack Vector

An attacker hosts a malicious HTML page containing crafted media or image content that triggers the vulnerable codec path. When a user visits the page in an unpatched Chrome build, the renderer process reads out-of-bounds bytes. The attacker retrieves the leaked memory through side channels such as timing, rendering artifacts, or JavaScript-observable state. Chained with other vulnerabilities, the leaked memory can support sandbox escape or full renderer compromise.

No verified public exploit code exists for CVE-2026-13906. Technical details are described in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry and the Google Chrome Stable Update release notes.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13906

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer processes crashing or logging codec-related errors after visiting untrusted sites
Outbound HTTPS connections from browser hosts to newly registered or low-reputation domains serving media-heavy HTML content
Unexpected memory access exceptions in chrome.exe child processes correlated with browsing activity

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any build below 150.0.7871.47
Correlate browser process telemetry with network events to identify users loading suspicious media pages
Deploy web content filtering to block access to known malicious or newly observed domains hosting exploit content

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor Chrome update compliance through enterprise management channels such as Chrome Browser Cloud Management
Alert on renderer process crashes or sandbox violations reported in endpoint telemetry
Track EPSS trend data for CVE-2026-13906 to detect increases in exploitation likelihood

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13906

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 150.0.7871.47 or later on all managed endpoints
Restart browser sessions after applying the update to ensure the patched binary is loaded
Enforce automatic Chrome updates through group policy or mobile device management

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-13906 in the Stable channel release 150.0.7871.47. Refer to the Google Chrome Stable Update announcement for full release notes and platform-specific build numbers. Chromium-based browsers should apply their vendor's corresponding update once the upstream fix is integrated.

Workarounds

Restrict browsing to trusted domains through enterprise web proxies until patching is complete
Disable or restrict media autoplay and hardware-accelerated decoding where feasible to reduce codec exposure
Educate users to avoid opening unsolicited links to media-heavy or unknown websites

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Windows: query the installed version via registry
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv

# Force policy-managed update check (Windows)
"%ProgramFiles%\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /ua /installsource scheduler