CVE-2026-7913 Overview
CVE-2026-7913 is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Google Chrome on Android prior to version 148.0.7778.96. The flaw stems from insufficient policy enforcement in Chrome DevTools, allowing a local attacker to escalate privileges through a malicious file. Google's Chromium project rated this issue as High severity.
The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-693] Protection Mechanism Failure. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, but successful attacks compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device.
Critical Impact
A local attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious file can escalate privileges within the Android device, gaining elevated access to user data and Chrome's protected contexts.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome on Android prior to 148.0.7778.96
- Google Android (when running affected Chrome versions)
- Chrome DevTools component on Android
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-06 - CVE-2026-7913 published to NVD
- 2026-05-06 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-7913
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Chrome DevTools subsystem on Android. DevTools provides developer-facing capabilities such as remote debugging, file system access, and runtime inspection. On Android, these capabilities operate inside Chrome's sandbox under enforced security policies.
Insufficient policy enforcement allows a malicious file to bypass restrictions intended to limit DevTools privileges. When a user opens or interacts with the crafted file through Chrome on Android, the DevTools component fails to apply the expected protection mechanism. The result is privilege escalation within the browser context on the local device.
The attack requires local access and user interaction, which limits remote mass exploitation. However, attackers can deliver the malicious file through phishing, drive-by downloads, or malicious applications that hand off content to Chrome.
Root Cause
The root cause is a Protection Mechanism Failure [CWE-693] in DevTools policy enforcement. Security policies that should restrict DevTools-mediated operations on local files are not consistently applied. This gap allows a malicious file to invoke DevTools functionality with privileges beyond what Chrome's security model permits on Android.
Attack Vector
Exploitation follows a local attack path. The attacker delivers a malicious file to the target device through email, messaging, a malicious app, or a compromised website. When the user opens the file in Chrome on Android, DevTools processes the content without enforcing the expected policy boundary. The attacker then leverages this gap to escalate privileges within the Chrome process context.
No public proof-of-concept code or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported. Technical specifics are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7913
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome on Android running versions earlier than 148.0.7778.96 on managed devices.
- Unexpected DevTools activity or remote debugging connections initiated from untrusted local files.
- Anomalous file handler invocations passing content to Chrome on Android from messaging or sideloaded applications.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory mobile fleet Chrome versions and flag any Android device running Chrome below 148.0.7778.96.
- Monitor mobile threat telemetry for suspicious file delivery vectors that target Chrome on Android, including malicious APKs that drop or hand off files.
- Correlate user-reported phishing or unsolicited file attachments with Chrome launch events on Android endpoints.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enterprise mobility management (EMM) reporting on Chrome version compliance for all Android devices.
- Track Chrome update status through Google Play managed configurations and alert on devices that fail to receive the patched build.
- Review Android application install logs for unsigned or sideloaded applications that handle file intents directed at Chrome.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7913
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome on Android to version 148.0.7778.96 or later through the Google Play Store.
- Enforce automatic Chrome updates across managed Android devices using EMM or Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies.
- Educate users on the risk of opening unsolicited files in Chrome, especially from messaging apps and unknown senders.
Patch Information
Google released the fix in Chrome 148.0.7778.96 for Android. Details are available in the Google Chrome Update Blog. Administrators should validate deployment by checking the installed Chrome version under chrome://version or through their EMM console.
Workarounds
- Restrict installation of untrusted Android applications and disable sideloading on managed devices until the Chrome update is deployed.
- Use enterprise browser policies to limit DevTools and remote debugging on Android where supported.
- Apply mobile threat defense controls that block known malicious file types delivered through email or messaging applications.
# Verify Chrome version on an Android device via ADB
adb shell dumpsys package com.android.chrome | grep versionName
# Expected output should show 148.0.7778.96 or later
# versionName=148.0.7778.96
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
