CVE-2026-15119: Google Chrome Sandbox Escape Vulnerability

CVE-2026-15119 Overview

CVE-2026-15119 is a race condition in the GetUserMedia implementation of Google Chrome prior to version 150.0.7871.115. An attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can exploit this flaw through a crafted HTML page to attempt a sandbox escape. Chromium security engineers rated the underlying issue as High severity. The weakness is classified under CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization. Successful exploitation moves an attacker out of the renderer sandbox and toward broader code execution on the host.

Critical Impact
A compromised renderer can win a race in GetUserMedia handling to escape the Chrome sandbox, enabling attackers to break the browser's core isolation boundary.

Affected Products

Google Chrome Desktop versions prior to 150.0.7871.115
Chromium-based browsers that inherit the vulnerable GetUserMedia code path
All supported desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) running affected Chrome builds

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-08 - CVE-2026-15119 published to NVD
2026-07-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-15119

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw resides in Chrome's GetUserMedia API, which grants web pages access to microphones and cameras after user consent. Concurrent execution paths inside the media capture pipeline access shared state without adequate synchronization. An attacker who already controls the renderer process can time operations to interleave with privileged browser-process operations. Winning this race corrupts state that the broker process trusts, opening a path to sandbox escape.

The vulnerability requires a two-stage attack chain. Attackers must first achieve code execution inside the renderer through a separate bug, then use CVE-2026-15119 to break out of the sandbox. User interaction is required, which typically means visiting a malicious page and interacting with media prompts. Attack complexity is high because the attacker must reliably win the race window.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper synchronization [CWE-362] between threads or processes handling GetUserMedia requests. Shared resources tied to media stream negotiation are read or modified without consistent locking, allowing a Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) condition. The compromised renderer manipulates request state between validation and use in the browser process.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is network-reachable. An attacker delivers a crafted HTML page that first exploits a renderer bug, then triggers the racy GetUserMedia code path. The scope changes because a successful escape crosses the security boundary from renderer sandbox to the browser process context. Details of the specific race window are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available at the time of publication. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-15119

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer processes spawning unexpected child processes or writing to sensitive filesystem locations after visiting untrusted pages
Crash reports in Chrome referencing GetUserMedia, MediaStreamManager, or media capture components
Outbound connections to attacker infrastructure from chrome.exe shortly after media permission prompts
Chrome browser versions below 150.0.7871.115 reported by asset inventory systems

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag hosts below 150.0.7871.115
Monitor process trees for anomalous children of Chrome renderer or browser processes
Alert on Chrome processes accessing directories outside typical browser data paths
Correlate media device access events with subsequent unusual process or network activity

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest browser telemetry and crash dumps into a centralized log platform for retrospective analysis
Track HTTP traffic to newly registered domains that request camera or microphone permissions
Enable enterprise browser reporting to capture extension activity and permission grants
Baseline normal renderer process behavior so deviations tied to sandbox escapes surface quickly

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-15119

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 150.0.7871.115 or later on all endpoints
Restart the browser after patching to ensure the vulnerable process code is unloaded
Audit Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) and apply vendor updates that incorporate the upstream fix
Restrict installation of untrusted browser extensions that could aid renderer compromise

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Stable channel update announced in the Google Chrome Desktop Update. Administrators should deploy Chrome 150.0.7871.115 or newer through managed update infrastructure. Enterprise environments using Chrome Browser Cloud Management can enforce the minimum version via policy.

Workarounds

Disable camera and microphone access at the operating system or policy level for users who do not require media capture
Use Chrome enterprise policies to block GetUserMedia on all origins except an allowlist
Deploy site isolation and strict permission prompts to reduce the attack surface from untrusted origins
Route browsing through remote browser isolation for high-risk user populations until patching completes

bash

# Enforce minimum Chrome version and restrict media capture via enterprise policy (Windows registry example)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v AudioCaptureAllowed /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v VideoCaptureAllowed /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v AudioCaptureAllowedUrls /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d "https://trusted.example.com" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v VideoCaptureAllowedUrls /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d "https://trusted.example.com" /f