CVE-2026-4673: Google Chrome Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2026-4673 Overview

A heap buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified in the WebAudio component of Google Chrome prior to version 146.0.7680.165. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to perform an out-of-bounds memory write through a specially crafted HTML page. When successfully exploited, an attacker can potentially achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process, compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this heap overflow vulnerability to execute arbitrary code by luring victims to malicious web pages containing crafted WebAudio content, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 146.0.7680.165 on Windows
• Google Chrome versions prior to 146.0.7680.165 on macOS
• Google Chrome versions prior to 146.0.7680.165 on Linux

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-24 - CVE-2026-4673 published to NVD
• 2026-03-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-4673

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). The WebAudio API in Google Chrome contains a heap buffer overflow that occurs when processing specially crafted audio data. The vulnerability allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries in heap memory, which can corrupt adjacent memory structures and potentially hijack program execution flow.

The attack requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must navigate to a malicious webpage containing the exploit payload. Once triggered, the out-of-bounds write can overwrite critical heap metadata or adjacent objects, enabling various exploitation primitives including code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from improper bounds checking in the WebAudio component when processing audio buffer operations. The WebAudio API provides powerful audio processing capabilities for web applications, including audio nodes, buffers, and real-time audio manipulation. During certain audio processing operations, the component fails to properly validate buffer sizes, allowing writes beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires minimal attacker prerequisites. An attacker hosts a malicious webpage containing crafted HTML and JavaScript that triggers the vulnerable WebAudio code path. When a victim visits this page, the malicious audio processing operations are initiated, causing the heap overflow condition.

The exploitation scenario involves:

1. Attacker creates a malicious webpage with crafted WebAudio API calls
2. Victim navigates to the malicious page (via phishing, watering hole, or malicious advertisements)
3. The crafted audio data triggers the heap buffer overflow
4. Out-of-bounds memory write corrupts heap structures
5. Attacker achieves code execution within the Chrome renderer process

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-4673

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected Chrome renderer process crashes with memory corruption signatures
• Anomalous WebAudio API calls or unusual audio buffer allocation patterns in web traffic
• Chrome crash dumps indicating heap corruption in WebAudio-related code paths
• Suspicious JavaScript payloads targeting the WebAudio API on visited websites

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for Chrome crash reports with heap corruption indicators in WebAudio components
• Deploy web content filtering to detect and block known exploit patterns targeting WebAudio
• Implement browser version auditing to identify systems running vulnerable Chrome versions
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for post-exploitation behavior following browser compromise

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome crash reporting and review crash dumps for memory corruption patterns
• Monitor network traffic for suspicious HTML pages with complex WebAudio API usage
• Track Chrome version deployments across the organization to ensure timely patching
• Configure SentinelOne to alert on suspicious child processes spawned from Chrome

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-4673

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 146.0.7680.165 or later immediately on all platforms
• Enable automatic Chrome updates to ensure timely security patch deployment
• Consider temporarily disabling WebAudio functionality via Chrome policies until patching is complete
• Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites

Patch Information

Google has released a security update addressing this vulnerability in Chrome version 146.0.7680.165. The patch is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. Organizations should prioritize deploying this update across their Chrome installations.

For official patch information, see the Google Chrome Update Announcement.

Workarounds

• Deploy Chrome enterprise policies to restrict access to untrusted websites
• Implement network-level content filtering to block known malicious domains
• Consider using browser isolation technologies to contain potential browser-based exploits
• Monitor and restrict the use of WebAudio API through Content Security Policy headers where feasible

# Chrome Enterprise Policy Example - Force Chrome Updates
# Add to Chrome policy configuration (Windows Registry or managed policies)
# Ensure Chrome auto-updates are enabled
# Policy: AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes = 60
# Policy: RelaunchNotification = 2 (Required)
# Policy: RelaunchNotificationPeriod = 86400000 (24 hours in milliseconds)