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Google Chrome EUVDEUVD-2026-28059

| CVE-2026-7978 HIGH
Protection Mechanism Failure (CWE-693)
2026-05-06 Chrome
8.1
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Chrome
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Position on network path
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious Companion protocol traffic
  3. Exploit
    Send to Chrome macOS instance
  4. Execution
    Trigger privilege escalation flaw
  5. Persist
    Execute OS-level code
  6. Impact
    Persist with system privileges

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Protection mechanism completeness
Exploitation Conditions

Requires Google Chrome for macOS prior to version 148.0.7778.96 with Companion component active (handles cross-device features like handoff and continuity, typically enabled by default on macOS). CVSS vector PR:N confirms no authentication required, but AC:H indicates high attack complexity requiring specialized conditions such as attacker-controlled network position to inject malicious traffic into Companion protocol exchanges, precise timing to exploit race conditions or state manipulation in privilege transitions, or specific companion device pairing states. Platform limitation to macOS excludes Windows, Linux, and mobile Chrome users from attack surface. UI:N confirms no user interaction required once network conditions are met, but the Companion component must be processing network traffic at time of attack.

Impact

CVSS 8.1 (High) driven by network attack vector with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, but real-world risk is moderated by high attack complexity (AC:H) and platform-specific nature. Not listed in CISA KEV, indicating no confirmed active exploitation. No publicly available exploit code identified. EPSS data not provided, but privilege escalation from remote network vector represents significant risk for targeted attacks against macOS Chrome users. The combination of unauthenticated remote access (PR:N) with OS-level privilege gain is severe, but AC:H suggests exploitation requires sophisticated technique, precise timing, or specific network conditions. Chromium security severity rated Medium conflicts with CVSS High score - vendor may assess lower practical exploitability due to complexity constraints. Priority for macOS enterprise environments running Chrome; lower urgency for heterogeneous fleets where attack surface is limited.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

Remote attacker crafts malicious network traffic targeting Chrome's Companion component on a macOS system. When the victim's Chrome browser processes this specially-crafted network data during companion device synchronization or handoff operations, the inappropriate implementation allows the attacker to break privilege boundaries and execute code with OS-level permissions, gaining full system control beyond browser sandbox. High attack complexity suggests exploitation requires precise timing, specific network positioning, or multi-step interaction with Companion protocol.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – May 06, 2026

OS-level privilege escalation in Google Chrome for macOS allows remote attackers to gain elevated system privileges through malicious network traffic exploiting the Companion component. Affects all Chrome versions prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Mac. Vendor-released patch available (Chrome 148.0.7778.96). No public exploit or active exploitation confirmed at time of analysis, though high-complexity network-based attack vector (CVSS AV:N/AC:H) suggests specialized exploitation requirements despite unauthenticated remote access.

RemediationAI

Update Google Chrome on macOS to version 148.0.7778.96 or later, released via Google's stable channel update in May 2026 (chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html). Chrome's automatic update mechanism will apply the patch for most users within 48 hours of release. Administrators can force immediate update via chrome://settings/help or deploy version 148.0.7778.96+ through enterprise management tools (Google Update for Enterprise, MDM solutions). If immediate patching is not feasible, compensating controls include: restricting Chrome usage to trusted networks only (blocks malicious network traffic vector but significantly limits browser utility), deploying network-level traffic inspection to detect anomalous Companion component traffic patterns (requires deep packet inspection capability and updated threat signatures), or temporarily disabling Chrome's companion device features if organizationally acceptable (may break cross-device sync and handoff workflows). All workarounds carry operational trade-offs versus patching.

Affected VersionsENISA

Chrome 148.0.7778.96 <148.0.7778.96

Affected Packages

euvd chrome fix: 148.0.7778.96

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 vulnerability affects the Companion component in Google Chrome's macOS implementation, which handles companion device integration and cross-device functionality. Classified under CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure), indicating improper enforcement of security boundaries between browser-level and OS-level privileges. The inappropriate implementation allows network-originated attacks to bypass macOS privilege boundaries, escalating from browser context to OS-level access. This represents a critical trust boundary violation where web content processing leads to system-level compromise. Affects cpe:2.3:a:google:chrome:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* specifically on macOS platforms prior to version 148.0.7778.96.

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Severity by source

Vendor (Chrome) PRIMARY 8.1 HIGH
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
SUSE HIGH
Red Hat 10.0 MEDIUM

Primary rating from Vendor (Chrome).

CVSS VectorVendor: Chrome

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
CVSS changed
May 06, 2026 - 22:22 NVD
8.1 (HIGH)
CVE Published
May 06, 2026 - 18:12 nvd
HIGH 8.1

DescriptionCVE.org

Inappropriate implementation in Companion in Google Chrome on Mac prior to 148.0.7778.96 allowed a remote attacker to perform OS-level privilege escalation via malicious network traffic. (Chromium security severity: Medium)

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Google Chrome for macOS versions prior to 148.0.7778.96 contain a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability in the Companion component that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain OS-level system privileges through malicious network traffic. This directly threatens macOS endpoints across the organization, particularly affecting users who cannot isolate Chrome traffic or operate in restricted network environments, and creates risk of lateral movement and data exfiltration if exploited successfully.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch: Chrome 148.0.7778.96 or later. Until patched, implement network-level controls: restrict outbound traffic from Chrome to known-malicious or suspicious domains, isolate macOS Chrome instances to segmented network zones, disable Companion component via Chrome enterprise policies where operationally feasible, and monitor network traffic for anomalous connections originating from Chrome processes.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 75% exploitable
Data Quality
7 sources
Confidence: High
EUVD NVD CVE.org EPSS Vulnrichment MSRC Vendor VulDB

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 0.1%
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

40
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +40
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: High

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