CVE-2026-14402: Google Chrome ANGLE Information Disclosure

CVE-2026-14402 Overview

CVE-2026-14402 is an uninitialized memory use vulnerability in ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine), the graphics abstraction layer used by Google Chrome on Windows. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.46 and allows a remote attacker to read potentially sensitive information from process memory. Exploitation requires the target user to load a crafted HTML page. Chromium classifies the underlying security severity as High, while the assigned CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5. The weakness is tracked under [CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable].

Critical Impact
A remote attacker can leak contents of the Chrome renderer process memory through a malicious web page, exposing data that may include tokens, credentials, or fragments of other user activity.

Affected Products

Google Chrome on Windows prior to 150.0.7871.46
Chromium-based browsers embedding vulnerable ANGLE builds
Applications bundling affected Chromium releases on Windows

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-01 - CVE-2026-14402 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-07-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-14402

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in ANGLE, the component that translates OpenGL ES calls used by Chrome's graphics stack into native Direct3D calls on Windows. ANGLE handles WebGL rendering initiated from untrusted web content in the renderer process. A code path within ANGLE reads a variable or memory region before it has been initialized. Attackers can influence that path from JavaScript and WebGL APIs delivered by a crafted HTML page.

Because the uninitialized region reflects prior contents of the renderer heap or stack, the attacker recovers residual data left by other operations. The disclosed information stays within the sandboxed renderer, but that boundary still contains sensitive material such as cross-origin fragments cached in memory, textures from other tabs, or authentication artifacts. User interaction is required, matching a typical drive-by browsing scenario.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified under [CWE-457]. A buffer, structure member, or GPU resource is consumed by ANGLE logic before being assigned a defined value. On Windows, ANGLE's Direct3D backend allocates numerous transient buffers during shader compilation and draw call translation, and one such allocation is used without a preceding write. The value read is attacker-observable through subsequent WebGL readback operations.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is network-based and requires the victim to open or be redirected to a page under attacker control. The page issues WebGL calls that trigger the vulnerable ANGLE code path, then reads back pixel or buffer data through standard WebGL APIs to exfiltrate the leaked memory. No authentication or elevated privileges are required. The exploitation code example is not available because no public proof-of-concept has been released; see the Chromium Issue Tracker entry for restricted technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-14402

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome browser processes on Windows reporting versions earlier than 150.0.7871.46 after the patch release date
Outbound requests from browser hosts to newly registered domains serving WebGL-heavy HTML content
Renderer process crashes or anomalous GPU driver errors correlated with visits to untrusted sites

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome and Chromium-derivative versions across Windows endpoints and flag builds below 150.0.7871.46
Inspect proxy and DNS logs for user navigation to unclassified sites immediately followed by unusual data exfiltration patterns
Correlate WebGL feature usage with reputation data on the hosting domain to surface suspicious sessions

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable browser telemetry forwarding to a centralized log platform to track Chrome version drift
Monitor endpoint process trees for chrome.exe renderer children exhibiting high GPU memory churn against low-reputation domains
Alert on Chrome update failures that leave hosts pinned to pre-150.0.7871.46 builds

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-14402

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome on Windows to version 150.0.7871.46 or later across all managed endpoints
Verify that Chrome's automatic update service is running and not blocked by group policy or network filtering
Restart browser sessions after deployment to ensure the patched binary is loaded into memory

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-14402 in the Chrome stable channel update announced in the Google Chrome Stable Update. The fix is included in Chrome 150.0.7871.46 for Windows. Details tied to the underlying defect are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker entry, which remains access-restricted per Chromium disclosure policy.

Workarounds

Disable WebGL in Chrome using enterprise policy where business workflows permit, reducing exposure to the vulnerable ANGLE path
Restrict browsing to allow-listed domains until the patched Chrome build is fully deployed
Enforce Site Isolation and third-party cookie restrictions to limit the value of any memory leaked from the renderer

bash

# Configuration example: enforce minimum Chrome version and disable WebGL via Windows Group Policy registry keys
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v "WebGLEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v "TargetVersionPrefix" /t REG_SZ /d "150.0.7871.46" /f