CVE-2026-13949 Overview
CVE-2026-13949 is an information disclosure vulnerability in the Payments component of Google Chrome on Android. Insufficient policy enforcement allows a remote attacker to read potentially sensitive data from Chrome's process memory. Exploitation requires a victim to visit a crafted HTML page in an affected browser version. Google addressed the flaw in Chrome for Android version 150.0.7871.47. The issue is tracked under [CWE-284: Improper Access Control] and was rated Medium severity by the Chromium security team.
Critical Impact
A remote attacker can extract sensitive information from Chrome process memory on Android devices by inducing a user to load malicious web content, potentially exposing payment-related data handled by the browser.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome for Android prior to 150.0.7871.47
- Google Android (as the host platform for the vulnerable Chrome browser)
- Chromium-based components handling the Payments feature
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-13949 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-07-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-13949
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Payments subsystem of Chrome on Android. Chrome's Payment Request API mediates access to payment credentials and coordinates payment handler flows across origins. Insufficient policy enforcement in this component permits a crafted HTML page to observe data that should remain isolated within Chrome's process memory. The result is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information rather than code execution or tampering. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability remain unaffected.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper access control [CWE-284] in the Payments code path. Policy checks that gate cross-origin or cross-context access to payment data are incomplete, allowing memory contents to be surfaced to attacker-controlled JavaScript. Because the failure occurs at the policy enforcement layer rather than in memory management, the browser does not crash and the leak can occur silently during normal rendering.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is remote and requires user interaction. An attacker hosts a malicious HTML page and lures a victim into visiting it through phishing, malvertising, or a compromised site. Once loaded, the crafted content triggers the Payments code path to disclose in-process memory to the attacker's script. No authentication or elevated privileges are required. The vulnerability does not enable arbitrary code execution, but leaked memory may include payment identifiers, session artifacts, or other data present in the renderer process.
The absence of published proof-of-concept code limits opportunistic exploitation. The EPSS estimate places CVE-2026-13949 in a low tier for near-term exploitation likelihood. Technical specifics are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13949
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome for Android instances still reporting a version string below 150.0.7871.47 in enterprise inventory or user-agent telemetry.
- Outbound connections from mobile endpoints to unfamiliar domains immediately after a user interaction with a payment prompt.
- Web page loads that invoke the Payment Request API from low-reputation origins or newly registered domains.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory mobile browser versions through mobile device management (MDM) or unified endpoint management tooling and flag out-of-date Chrome installs.
- Correlate web proxy or DNS logs with URL reputation feeds to surface visits to pages hosting crafted payment content.
- Monitor mobile threat defense telemetry for anomalous script activity on Chrome for Android sessions.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track Google Chrome release notes and align patch deployment windows with the Google Chrome Update Announcement.
- Alert on Android devices that fail to receive Chrome updates from the Play Store within organizational SLAs.
- Baseline user navigation to payment-processing domains and investigate deviations that coincide with unpatched browser versions.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13949
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome for Android to version 150.0.7871.47 or later on all managed devices.
- Push the update through Google Play managed configurations or MDM policy to accelerate rollout on enterprise fleets.
- Communicate the risk to end users and instruct them to avoid untrusted payment prompts until devices are patched.
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the stable channel update covering Chrome 150.0.7871.47 for Android. Details are published in the Google Chrome Update Announcement. Enterprises using managed Google Play should ensure automatic updates are enabled and that the Chrome app is not pinned to an older version.
Workarounds
- Restrict use of the Payment Request API on managed browsers through enterprise policy where the feature is not required.
- Deploy web filtering to block access to low-reputation domains that could host crafted HTML payloads targeting the Payments component.
- Use an alternative up-to-date browser on Android for payment workflows until Chrome is updated on the device.
# Verify installed Chrome version on an Android device via ADB
adb shell dumpsys package com.android.chrome | grep versionName
# Expected output should show versionName=150.0.7871.47 or higher
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
