CVE-2026-7962: Google Chrome RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-7962 Overview

CVE-2026-7962 is an insufficient policy enforcement vulnerability in the DirectSockets component of Google Chrome before version 148.0.7778.96. The flaw allows a remote attacker to perform arbitrary read and write operations through a crafted Chrome Extension. The issue is tracked as [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation and was disclosed by Google as a Medium severity Chromium issue. Exploitation requires user interaction, typically convincing a victim to install or execute a malicious extension.

Critical Impact

A crafted Chrome Extension can bypass DirectSockets policy controls to perform arbitrary network read and write operations from the browser context.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Microsoft Windows
• Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Apple macOS
• Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Linux

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-06 - CVE-2026-7962 published to NVD
• 2026-05-07 - Last updated in NVD database
• 2026-05 - Google releases Stable Channel update for desktop addressing the issue (Google Chrome Releases Blog)

Technical Details for CVE-2026-7962

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's DirectSockets API, which permits isolated web applications and certain extension contexts to open raw TCP and UDP sockets. DirectSockets is intended to be guarded by strict policy checks that limit which origins and extension manifest configurations can issue socket calls. CVE-2026-7962 stems from insufficient enforcement of those policy checks.

A crafted Chrome Extension can leverage the gap to perform arbitrary read and write operations beyond the boundaries the policy is intended to impose. Because DirectSockets exposes lower-level network primitives than fetch or WebSocket, abuse can reach internal services, bypass same-origin restrictions on raw byte streams, and exfiltrate or manipulate data. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for upstream technical details.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation [CWE-20] within the DirectSockets policy enforcement path. Chrome fails to fully validate the extension context or socket parameters before granting access to socket read and write operations.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network and requires user interaction. An attacker convinces a victim to install a malicious Chrome Extension or compromises a legitimate extension through a supply chain attack. Once loaded, the extension issues DirectSockets calls that would normally be blocked, gaining the ability to read and write arbitrary network data within the browser's reachable network scope.

No public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2026-7962. Technical specifics are restricted while users update; consult the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for additional context as it becomes public.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7962

Indicators of Compromise

• Chrome Extensions requesting the direct-sockets permission or declaring "sockets" capabilities in manifest.json from untrusted sources
• Outbound TCP or UDP connections originating from chrome.exe or the renderer process to non-standard ports or internal RFC1918 addresses
• Newly sideloaded extensions installed outside the Chrome Web Store policy through --load-extension or developer mode

Detection Strategies

• Inventory installed Chrome Extensions across managed endpoints and flag any that declare DirectSockets-related permissions
• Correlate Chrome process network telemetry with extension install events to surface extensions initiating raw socket traffic
• Monitor for Chrome versions below 148.0.7778.96 reporting in browser telemetry or asset management data

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome Enterprise reporting to forward extension install, update, and permission events into a centralized logging pipeline
• Alert on Chrome renderer or utility processes initiating outbound connections to internal infrastructure such as databases, SSH, or admin interfaces
• Track endpoint compliance against the patched Chrome build and surface devices that remain on vulnerable versions

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7962

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 148.0.7778.96 or later on Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
• Restart Chrome after the update so the patched binary loads on every user session
• Audit installed extensions and remove any that are unnecessary, unverified, or request DirectSockets permissions

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-7962 in the Stable Channel update that delivers Chrome 148.0.7778.96. Details are documented in the Google Chrome Releases Blog. Managed environments should deploy the update through Chrome Browser Cloud Management, Group Policy, or the platform package manager.

Workarounds

• Restrict extension installation through the ExtensionInstallAllowlist and ExtensionInstallBlocklist enterprise policies until patching is complete
• Disable developer mode and block sideloaded extensions using DeveloperToolsAvailability and ExtensionInstallSources
• Apply network egress controls that prevent browser processes from reaching sensitive internal services

# Example Chrome enterprise policy (Linux JSON policy file)
# /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/block_unverified_extensions.json
{
  "ExtensionInstallBlocklist": ["*"],
  "ExtensionInstallAllowlist": [
    "<approved-extension-id-1>",
    "<approved-extension-id-2>"
  ],
  "DeveloperToolsAvailability": 2,
  "ExtensionInstallSources": []
}