CVE-2026-7983 Overview
CVE-2026-7983 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] in the Dawn component of Google Chrome. Dawn is the cross-platform implementation of WebGPU used by Chromium. Versions of Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 are affected. A remote attacker can leak cross-origin data by serving a crafted HTML page to a victim. Chromium classifies the security severity as Medium. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as visiting an attacker-controlled web page. The flaw impacts Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to read memory beyond intended buffers in the Dawn WebGPU implementation, potentially leaking cross-origin data that violates the browser same-origin policy.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 148.0.7778.96
- Google Chrome on Microsoft Windows
- Google Chrome on Apple macOS and Linux
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-06 - CVE-2026-7983 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-05-06 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-7983
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Dawn, the Chromium component that implements the WebGPU specification. WebGPU exposes modern GPU functionality to web content through JavaScript APIs. An out-of-bounds read [CWE-125] occurs when code reads memory past the boundaries of an allocated buffer. In a browser context, this can return uninitialized or adjacent memory contents to the renderer process.
The vulnerability requires the victim to load a crafted HTML page in a vulnerable Chrome build. User interaction is required, consistent with standard web browsing behavior. The attack does not require authentication or local access to the target system. Confidentiality impact is limited to cross-origin information disclosure rather than integrity or availability loss.
Root Cause
The defect stems from missing or insufficient bounds checking inside the Dawn WebGPU implementation. When processing GPU resource handles, command buffers, or shader inputs supplied through JavaScript, Dawn reads memory regions that extend past the intended allocation. The CWE-125 classification indicates a read primitive, not a write, which limits exploitation to disclosure rather than memory corruption.
Attack Vector
An attacker hosts a malicious web page that issues crafted WebGPU API calls. When a victim visits the page, the renderer process executes the malicious sequence and triggers the out-of-bounds read in Dawn. The leaked bytes can include data from other origins loaded into the same renderer or cross-process memory accessible via GPU resources. The attacker collects the leaked data through standard JavaScript channels back to a controlled server.
No verified public exploit code or proof-of-concept has been published. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for technical context once Google opens the issue to the public.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7983
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome installations reporting version strings below 148.0.7778.96 in enterprise inventory data.
- Browser telemetry showing renderer process crashes or anomalies tied to the Dawn or WebGPU subsystems.
- Outbound HTTP requests from browser hosts to unfamiliar domains immediately after WebGPU-heavy page loads.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all managed endpoints and identify Chrome builds older than 148.0.7778.96 using endpoint configuration management tools.
- Monitor proxy and DNS logs for traffic to known malicious or newly registered domains hosting WebGPU-enabled content.
- Correlate browser version data with web access logs to identify users at risk during the patch rollout window.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track Chrome auto-update status and flag endpoints where updates have stalled or been disabled.
- Alert on renderer process termination patterns in EDR telemetry that align with WebGPU API usage.
- Review egress traffic for sustained low-volume data exfiltration patterns following web browsing sessions.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7983
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 148.0.7778.96 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
- Verify Chrome auto-update functionality is enabled and not blocked by group policy or proxy configuration.
- Restart browser sessions after the update applies, since patched binaries take effect only after relaunch.
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the Stable channel update for Chrome 148.0.7778.96. Details are available in the Google Chrome Update Announcement. Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera typically inherit the fix in subsequent releases and should be updated when their vendors publish corresponding builds.
Workarounds
- Disable WebGPU through the chrome://flags/#enable-unsafe-webgpu flag or enterprise policy until patching completes.
- Restrict access to untrusted websites using web filtering and DNS security controls during the remediation window.
- Deploy enterprise policies that enforce minimum Chrome versions and block launch of out-of-date browsers.
# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux
google-chrome --version
# Windows registry check for installed Chrome version
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Chrome\BLBeacon" /v version
# macOS version check
/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
