CVE-2026-79040 Overview
CVE-2026-79040 is an uninitialized resource vulnerability in the GPU component of Google Chrome on Android. Versions prior to 152.0.7977.65 are affected. A remote attacker can serve a crafted HTML page to read memory outside the Chrome sandbox. Chromium security rates this issue as Low severity.
The flaw is classified under [CWE-908: Use of Uninitialized Resource]. It requires user interaction, such as visiting an attacker-controlled page, and does not require authentication. Successful exploitation results in confidentiality impact through disclosure of uninitialized GPU memory contents.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can leak memory contents from outside the Chrome sandbox on Android devices by rendering a crafted HTML page in a browsing session.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome for Android prior to 152.0.7977.65
- GPU process component within the Chromium rendering pipeline
- Downstream Chromium-based Android browsers that have not integrated the upstream fix
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-25 - CVE-2026-79040 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-08-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-79040
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the GPU process of Chrome for Android. The GPU process allocates a resource without initializing its underlying memory before use. When that resource is consumed by rendering operations, residual bytes from prior allocations remain readable.
A crafted HTML page can trigger the GPU code path that returns this uninitialized data to the renderer. The renderer then exposes fragments of that memory to attacker-controlled JavaScript. Because the disclosure originates from the GPU process, the leaked data can include content from outside the standard renderer sandbox.
The issue tracker entry Chromium Issue Tracker #516950646 documents the underlying defect. The fix landed in the Chrome stable channel referenced in the Google Chrome Desktop Update release notes.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing initialization step in a GPU resource allocation path, mapped to [CWE-908: Use of Uninitialized Resource]. Memory returned by the allocator retains prior contents rather than being zeroed or overwritten before first use. Downstream GPU operations then read and propagate this stale data.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires a victim to load attacker-controlled HTML in Chrome for Android. The attacker hosts a page that issues specific GPU-accelerated rendering calls, such as WebGL or Canvas operations, to reach the vulnerable code path. Returned pixel or buffer data is then read back through standard web APIs to reconstruct leaked memory bytes.
No authentication is required, and the attack executes entirely over the network. The attacker gains read-only access to memory content and cannot directly modify data or execute code through this flaw alone. The leaked memory can, however, be chained with other vulnerabilities to defeat address space layout randomization or extract sensitive tokens.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to the linked references for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-79040
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome for Android clients reporting a version string earlier than 152.0.7977.65 in User-Agent telemetry
- Outbound web traffic to unfamiliar domains serving pages that heavily exercise WebGL, WebGPU, or Canvas 2D APIs
- Repeated visits to a single third-party origin coinciding with elevated GPU process activity in mobile device telemetry
Detection Strategies
- Inventory managed Android devices and flag Chrome installations below the patched build 152.0.7977.65
- Inspect web proxy and DNS logs for pages that combine short session duration with heavy graphics API usage from untrusted origins
- Use enterprise browser management to enforce reporting of Chrome version and update status back to a central console
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest Chrome update and version telemetry into the security data lake for continuous version-drift monitoring
- Correlate mobile browsing activity with threat intelligence feeds covering Chromium exploit delivery infrastructure
- Track Chromium release cadence and alert when managed fleets fall more than one minor version behind stable
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-79040
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Chrome for Android to version 152.0.7977.65 or later through the Google Play Store
- Push the updated Chrome build through mobile device management (MDM) policies for enterprise-managed handsets
- Advise users to avoid opening untrusted links in Chrome on Android until the update is confirmed installed
Patch Information
Google addressed CVE-2026-79040 in Chrome 152.0.7977.65 on the stable channel. Details are published in the Google Chrome Desktop Update advisory, with the underlying defect tracked in Chromium Issue Tracker #516950646. Chromium-derived browsers should incorporate the upstream fix in their next release.
Workarounds
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites through enterprise web filtering until the Chrome update is deployed
- Disable hardware-accelerated rendering in Chrome flags on high-risk devices to reduce reachability of the vulnerable GPU path
- Use conditional access policies to block outdated Chrome versions from reaching sensitive corporate applications
# Configuration example: enforce minimum Chrome version via Android MDM (Google Workspace / Chrome Enterprise)
# Managed configuration key for minimum allowed Chrome version
MinimumRequiredChromeVersion = "152.0.7977.65"
# Example: query installed Chrome version on a managed Android device via adb
adb shell dumpsys package com.android.chrome | grep versionName
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
