CVE-2026-79010 Overview
CVE-2026-79010 is a use-after-expiration vulnerability [CWE-672] in the Network component of Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 152.0.7977.65. A remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can bypass the web origin policy by serving a crafted HTML page. Google rated the Chromium security severity as Medium. The vulnerability allows attackers to break same-origin protections that isolate content between web origins.
Critical Impact
An attacker controlling a compromised renderer can bypass Chrome's same-origin policy, potentially reading data from other web origins loaded in the browser.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome desktop versions prior to 152.0.7977.65
- Chromium-based browsers sharing the affected network stack
- Downstream distributions embedding the vulnerable Chromium release
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-25 - CVE-2026-79010 published to NVD
- 2026-08-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-79010
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Network component and is classified as an operation on a resource after expiration or release [CWE-672]. Chrome's multi-process architecture relies on the browser process to enforce security boundaries between renderer processes. Each web origin is expected to remain isolated by the same-origin policy.
When a network resource is released or its lifetime has expired, subsequent operations against that resource can produce inconsistent security state. An attacker leveraging a compromised renderer can trigger the reuse of stale resource references. The result is a bypass of the origin checks that normally restrict cross-origin data access.
This issue requires prior compromise of the renderer process. It is therefore typically chained with a separate renderer exploit to achieve meaningful impact against a target user.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper lifecycle management of a network resource. Code paths in the Network component continue to operate on a resource handle after the resource has been expired or released. The stale reference retains privileges or origin metadata that should no longer apply, enabling the origin policy bypass.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires two stages. First, the attacker must compromise a Chrome renderer process, typically through an unrelated renderer vulnerability. Second, the attacker delivers a crafted HTML page that manipulates network resource lifecycles to trigger the expired-resource operation. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to read or influence content associated with a different web origin from within the compromised renderer.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is available. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for restricted technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-79010
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome browser processes running versions earlier than 152.0.7977.65 on managed endpoints
- Renderer process crashes or unexpected child-process spawns preceding cross-origin data access anomalies
- Outbound requests from browser hosts to unfamiliar domains hosting crafted HTML payloads
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any host below 152.0.7977.65
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for renderer sandbox escapes or unusual chrome.exe child processes
- Correlate browser navigation logs with threat intelligence covering exploit kits targeting Chromium
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest browser and endpoint telemetry into a central data lake for version and behavior analysis
- Alert on Chrome update failures that leave endpoints on vulnerable builds
- Track network egress from browser processes to newly registered or low-reputation domains
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-79010
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later on all endpoints
- Force-restart Chrome after deploying the update to load the patched binary
- Verify enterprise auto-update policies are enabled and reporting success
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the Stable channel update documented in the Google Chrome Update Announcement. Chromium-based browser vendors should apply the corresponding upstream patch and ship updated builds to their users. Confirm the deployed version reports 152.0.7977.65 or higher under chrome://settings/help.
Workarounds
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites via enterprise policy until patching completes
- Enable Site Isolation and strict origin policies through Chrome enterprise configuration
- Deploy web filtering to block access to untrusted HTML content that could stage exploitation
# Configuration example: verify Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version
# Windows: query installed Chrome version via registry
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
