Skip to main content

Google Chrome Headless EUVDEUVD-2026-111446

| CVE-2026-118336 HIGH
Improper Input Validation (CWE-20)
2026-10-27 chrome-cve-admin@google.com GHSA-6hrj-c4rx-8qwq
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: google
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Lure victim to malicious page
  2. Delivery
    Serve crafted HTML to Headless
  3. Exploit
    Trigger improper input validation flaw
  4. Execution
    Execute arbitrary code in renderer
  5. Impact
    Operate within confined sandbox

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation, allowlisting
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the victim to load a crafted HTML page in Google Chrome's Headless component (CVSS UI:R), so it affects users or, more realistically, automated Headless Chrome deployments (CI pipelines, server-side rendering, scraping, PDF generation) that process attacker-influenced HTML. No authentication is required (PR:N). The key limiting factor is that successful code execution is confined to the sandbox (scope Unchanged, S:U) - achieving impact beyond the sandbox would require chaining an additional sandbox-escape vulnerability. Chrome's automatic update mechanism further narrows the realistic exploitation window once 156.0.8078.73 is deployed. Fixed version: 156.0.8078.73; the vendor advisory indicates updating as the remedy.

Impact

This is a genuine but moderate-urgency priority rather than an emergency. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U) reflects network reach, low attack complexity and no required privileges, offset by required user interaction (the victim must load attacker-controlled content). Critically, the description states code execution occurs 'inside the sandbox' and the scope is Unchanged (S:U), meaning a successful exploit is confined to the renderer/Headless sandbox and would require a separate sandbox-escape to achieve full host compromise - this materially lowers real-world impact versus a full RCE. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or public PoC is present in the supplied data, so there is no evidence of active exploitation; the vendor-assigned priority is 'this_week', consistent with a serious-but-not-actively-exploited browser flaw. Google's own severity rating is High (not Critical). Net: patch on a normal expedited cycle (aided by Chrome's auto-update), but this is not an act_now/emergency item on current signals.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page and lures a victim whose Chrome (or an automated Headless Chrome instance used for scraping, rendering, or CI) loads it. The malformed input triggers the improper input validation (CWE-20) in the Headless component, letting the attacker run code within the renderer sandbox. No public exploit was identified in the supplied data, and full host compromise would require chaining a separate sandbox escape.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 28, 2026

Improper input validation in the Headless component of Google Chrome before 156.0.8078.73 lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker who convinces a victim to load a crafted HTML page run arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. The realistic exposure is less ordinary desktop browsing and more automated Headless Chrome deployments - CI pipelines, server-side rendering, scraping and PDF generation - that render attacker-influenced HTML. No public exploit code or active exploitation is confirmed in the available data; the vendor has released Chrome 156.0.8078.73 as the fix, and this is assessed as a genuine but moderate-urgency priority rather than an emergency.

RemediationAI

Upgrade to Chrome 156.0.8078.73 or later; the vendor advisory (https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_0562499947.html) indicates updating as the remedy, and Chrome's automatic update mechanism will roll the fix out to standard desktop installs. Verify the version in managed fleets and, above all, in container images and headless/browser-automation services, which often pin older builds and do not auto-update. Where immediate upgrade of a Headless deployment is not possible, reduce exposure by ensuring that rendering services only load HTML from trusted or sanitized sources and by running those renderers with the strongest sandboxing and least privilege available, accepting that this lowers but does not eliminate risk because code execution within the sandbox is still possible until 156.0.8078.73 is deployed.

Affected VersionsENISA

Chrome 156.0.8078.73 <156.0.8078.73

Affected Packages

euvd chrome fix: 156.0.8078.73

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw is a CWE-20 improper input validation defect in Chrome's Headless component, the mode used for non-interactive rendering (headless automation, screenshotting, PDF rendering, server-side page rendering). Because validation of crafted markup is insufficient, a remote attacker can supply a page that leads to code execution - but the assessed CVSS vector is S:U (scope Unchanged), so any code execution remains confined to Chrome's sandbox; escaping it would require chaining a separate sandbox-escape vulnerability. AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R describes a network-reachable, low-complexity flaw that needs a user (or an automated renderer) to load the crafted page, with no authentication. Chromium rated the issue security severity High, our independent assessment scores it 8.8, and the underlying trigger mechanics beyond the crafted-HTML delivery are not described in the available sources.

Know when the next one hits your stack

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (google) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Remote crafted-page delivery (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N) requires the victim to load content (UI:R); code runs in the sandbox without scope change (S:U), consistent with high C/I/A within the renderer.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (google).

CVSS VectorVendor: google

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

3
CVSS changed
Oct 28, 2026 - 14:22 NVD
8.8 (HIGH)
CVE Published
Oct 27, 2026 - 23:17 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
Oct 27, 2026 - 23:17 cve.org
HIGH 8.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper input validation in Headless in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.73 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Google Chrome versions prior to 156.0.8078.73 contain a high-severity input validation flaw in the Headless component that permits remote, unauthenticated code execution within the browser sandbox. Although ordinary desktop browsing presents limited exposure, the greatest risk is to automated Headless Chrome deployments-such as CI pipelines, server-side rendering, scraping, and PDF generation-that process attacker-influenced HTML. Leadership should prioritize patching because these automated systems often operate with elevated privileges and handle untrusted content, making exploitation potentially damaging to data integrity and service availability.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 87% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Google Chrome is among the most widely deployed browsers worldwide
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

44
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy