CVE-2026-2317 Overview
CVE-2026-2317 is an information disclosure vulnerability in the Animation component of Google Chrome prior to version 145.0.7632.45. The inappropriate implementation allows a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data via a crafted HTML page, potentially exposing sensitive information from other origins in the browser context.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability enables attackers to bypass Same-Origin Policy protections through the Animation API, potentially leaking sensitive cross-origin data when users visit malicious web pages.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome prior to 145.0.7632.45
- Chromium-based browsers using affected Animation component versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-11 - CVE-2026-2317 published to NVD
- 2026-02-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-2317
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from an inappropriate implementation within Chrome's Animation API that fails to properly enforce cross-origin isolation boundaries. The Animation component, responsible for handling CSS and JavaScript-based animations in web content, contains a flaw that can be exploited to infer or directly access data from cross-origin resources.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor), indicating that the core issue involves improper handling of data confidentiality across security boundaries. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page with specific animation sequences or API calls, the Animation implementation inadvertently leaks information about resources from other origins.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in the Animation component's failure to properly isolate cross-origin data during animation processing. The implementation does not adequately validate or sanitize data flows between different origin contexts, allowing side-channel information leakage through timing variations, state changes, or direct data exposure during animation operations.
Attack Vector
The attack requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must navigate to an attacker-controlled webpage. Once loaded, the malicious page leverages the Animation API vulnerability to extract cross-origin data. This could include:
- Sensitive information from authenticated sessions on other sites
- Data from embedded cross-origin iframes or resources
- Information about the user's browsing context and loaded resources
The attack is network-based and requires no special privileges beyond the ability to serve malicious web content. The exploitation technique involves crafting specific animation sequences that trigger the inappropriate implementation behavior, causing cross-origin data to be exposed to the attacker's context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2317
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual Animation API usage patterns in browser logs or web traffic analysis
- JavaScript executing complex animation sequences with cross-origin resource references
- Network requests to suspicious domains followed by animation-heavy page interactions
- Browser crashes or unusual behavior when visiting untrusted websites
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for exploitation attempts by analyzing web traffic for pages with suspicious Animation API usage patterns
- Implement browser version tracking across endpoints to identify systems running vulnerable Chrome versions below 145.0.7632.45
- Review Content Security Policy violations that may indicate cross-origin data access attempts
- Deploy endpoint detection rules to flag unusual browser process behavior during animation rendering
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enhanced browser telemetry to capture Animation API usage anomalies
- Configure web proxies to inspect JavaScript content for known exploitation patterns
- Monitor for reports of sensitive data exposure that may correlate with visits to untrusted websites
- Track Chromium security advisories for additional indicators related to this vulnerability
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2317
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 145.0.7632.45 or later immediately across all systems
- Verify that automatic browser updates are enabled and functioning correctly
- Instruct users to avoid visiting untrusted websites until patches are applied
- Review and update Chromium-based browser deployments (Edge, Brave, Opera, etc.) as vendors release corresponding patches
Patch Information
Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 145.0.7632.45. The fix corrects the inappropriate implementation in the Animation component to properly enforce cross-origin isolation. Administrators should reference the Google Chrome Update Announcement for official patch details. Additional technical information is available via the Chromium Issue Tracker Update.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to untrusted websites through web filtering or proxy policies until patches can be deployed
- Consider temporarily disabling JavaScript on untrusted sites using browser extensions or enterprise policies
- Implement network-level controls to block access to known malicious domains
- Use browser isolation technologies to contain potential cross-origin data leakage from untrusted content
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
