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How CVE-2026-11668 Works
CVE-2026-11668 is a vulnerability in Google Chrome’s handling of video codecs on Linux and ChromeOS systems. The flaw arises from an uninitialized use (CWE-457) within the `media/gpu` component, specifically related to how the browser processes H.265 video streams. At a technical level, the vulnerability exists in the management of the Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), a critical memory structure used during hardware-accelerated video decoding.
During the decoding of H.265 video, certain frames, such as RASL (Random Access Skipped Leading) pictures, are used for reference but are not meant to be displayed or retained indefinitely. In vulnerable versions of Chrome (prior to 149.0.7827.103), the codec component would incorrectly store these non-decodable RASL frames in the DPB. This inappropriate retention had a dangerous side effect: it could keep associated GPU memory surfaces active even when they had not been properly initialized with data or security attributes.
The failure to properly clear or reinitialize these GPU surfaces creates a memory disclosure vector. Because the memory region was not fully initialized before being reused, it could contain residual data from previous operations or, more critically, from other security origins.
A remote attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious video file designed to trigger this specific decoding path. When a victim visits a webpage serving this crafted file, the flawed decoding process forces the GPU to expose the uninitialized memory. Since this memory may have previously held data from a different website or origin, the attacker can bypass the browser’s Same-Origin Policy (SOP) and leak sensitive cross-origin information, such as cookies, tokens, or content from other open tabs or iframes. The vulnerability is triggered remotely with user interaction (visiting a website) and is rated as High Severity by the Chromium security team.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Linux, ChromeOS
Version: < 149.0.7827.103
Vulnerability : Uninitialized use (GPU/Codec)
Severity: High
date: 2026-06-08
Prediction: 2026-07-01 (30 days)
Analytics under heading What Undercode Say:
Query: Chrome version check google-chrome --version Google Chrome 149.0.7827.86 (Official Build) (64-bit) Vulnerable List codecs and GPU info chrome://gpu chrome://media-internals Simulate DPB surface pool leak detection (strace) strace -e ioctl google-chrome --disable-setuid-sandbox 2>&1 | grep -E "DMA_BUF|VIDIOC_|V4L2" Check if ChromeOS device is vulnerable grep CHROMEOS_RELEASE_VERSION /etc/lsb-release CHROMEOS_RELEASE_VERSION=14900.68.0 Vulnerable if < 14900.78.0 Check for accelerated video decode status on Linux cat /sys/module/i915/parameters/enable_guc
Exploit:
Pseudo-code for uninitialized memory disclosure via custom H.265
The attacker crafts an H.265 video containing a RASL (Random Access Skipped Leading)
frame with incorrect reference flags. The DPB (Decoded Picture Buffer) fails to
discard the frame, leaving the underlying GPU surface (which points to a stale
V4L2 buffer or DMA-BUF handle) in an uninitialized state. When rendered, the
shader reads the stale memory, leaking cross-origin pixel data.
import cv2
import numpy as np
def craft_exploit_video(output_path):
fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc('HEVC')
out = cv2.VideoWriter(output_path, fourcc, 30.0, (640, 480))
for _ in range(150):
Generate frame containing forced RASL NAL unit via raw bitstream injection
NAL unit type 9 (RASL_R) with invalid `decoded_picture_buffer` reference flags.
frame_data = generate_corrupted_rasl_nal()
out.write(frame_data)
out.release()
Protection:
Immediate Update: Upgrade Google Chrome to version `149.0.7827.103` or later.
Mitigation: If updating is impossible, disable hardware-accelerated video decoding by launching Chrome with the flag --disable-accelerated-video-decode.
Enterprise Policy: Use the `VideoDecodeEnabled` policy to restrict or disable GPU video decoding for managed users until the patch is applied.
Impact:
Exploitation allows a malicious webpage to leak cross-origin data, effectively breaching the browser’s primary security boundary. A successful attack could expose session tokens, API keys, or sensitive content from internal networks or other web applications, leading to account takeover or data theft.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
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