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Intro
CVE-2026-11196 is a type confusion vulnerability in Google Chrome’s XML parsing engine, specifically within its `libxslt` library, used for XSLT transformations. The flaw resides in the `xsltParseTemplateContent` function when handling Document Type Definition (DTD) nodes. During DTD traversal, the code incorrectly assumes an `XML_ENTITY_DECL` node is actually an XML_ELEMENT_NODE. This mismatch triggers a type confusion: the parser treats a node of one type as if it were a different, incompatible type.
When the code then attempts to access a namespace (ns) pointer, which only exists in element nodes, it instead reads an offset where the entity node stores a different memory value—a string pointer to its original content. By forcing the browser to process a maliciously crafted XML file, an attacker can cause the parser to misinterpret this string pointer as a namespace structure, leading to an out-of-bounds heap memory read. This can leak sensitive data from Chrome’s process memory, such as cookies, tokens, or other confidential information.
The attack is remote and requires user interaction, such as tricking a victim into opening a malicious `.xml` or `.svg` file that triggers the XSLT transformation. It does not require any special privileges, making it a plausible vector in spear-phishing or web-based attacks. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-843 weakness (Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type). It was patched in Chrome version 149.0.7827.53 by adding a critical type check to ensure nodes are element nodes before accessing their namespace fields.
While the flaw itself only leaks information, its disclosure can serve as a stepping stone in a multi-stage attack, aiding in bypassing memory protections or stealing credentials. No working exploit has been publicly released as of June 2026, and the vulnerability is not yet known to be exploited in the wild.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Google Chrome
Version: prior 149.0.7827.53
Vulnerability : Type Confusion
Severity: Medium (CVSS:6.5)
date: 2026-06-04
Prediction: Patch date: June 4, 2026
What Undercode Say:
Check current Chrome version
google-chrome --version
Update to patched version (Linux - Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade google-chrome-stable
Verify update
google-chrome --version | grep "149.0.7827.53"
Find vulnerable systems (version < 149.0.7827.53)
dpkg -l | grep google-chrome-stable | awk '{print $3}'
Simulate a memory read attempt (educational)
echo "<!DOCTYPE foo [ <!ENTITY % xxe SYSTEM \"file:///etc/passwd\"> ]>" > malicious.xml
Exploit:
The vulnerability is triggered by specially crafted XML files that cause a type confusion during XSLT processing. The core issue is that the `xsltParseTemplateContent` function did not verify the type of a node before accessing its namespace field. An attacker could embed a malicious entity declaration that leads the parser to treat the entity node as an element node, causing an out-of-bounds read. No known working exploit code is publicly available at this time.
Protection:
- Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.53 or later immediately.
2. Enable Chrome’s automatic updates.
3. For enterprise environments, enforce browser update policies.
- Configure web gateways to block or inspect suspicious XML attachments.
5. Consider disabling JavaScript/automatic XSLT processing where possible.
Impact:
Successful exploitation allows a remote attacker to read sensitive information from Chrome’s process memory, potentially exposing login tokens, session cookies, personal data, or other secrets. This information could be used in subsequent attacks, such as account takeovers or privilege escalation. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability remain unaffected.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
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