Description

Incorrect authorization in TabGroups in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to potentially leak sensitive information via crafted network traffic. (Chromium security severity: Medium)

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-25T21:18:06.000Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-25T21:18:06.000Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An incorrect authorization vulnerability exists within the TabGroups component of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.65. Classified with a Medium severity by the Chromium security team, this flaw permits a remote attacker to bypass authorization controls governing tab group data and interactions. By transmitting specially crafted network traffic, an unauthenticated remote adversary can exploit this weakness to potentially leak sensitive information from the browser's context.\nThe risk implications are notable for multi-tenant or shared browser environments where sensitive data, session details, or structural tab organization metadata might be exposed. Because this vulnerability involves network-based exploitation vectors, attackers do not require physical or local access to the victim's machine, though they must successfully deliver crafted network packets to trigger the faulty authorization logic. Resolving this issue requires updating the browser to the remediated version to ensure that access controls within the TabGroups architecture are strictly enforced and validated against incoming traffic.",
  "technicalDetails": "The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the incorrect authorization mechanisms implemented within the TabGroups component of Google Chrome. In versions of the browser prior to 152.0.7977.65, the TabGroups architecture failed to adequately validate authorization credentials or enforce strict access control boundaries on incoming network-based requests or messages. This component is responsible for organizing, syncing, and maintaining the state of clustered browser tabs, which frequently involves cross-origin messaging, synchronization APIs, or internal IPC (Inter-Process Communication) bridged over network boundaries.\nAn attacker can exploit this weakness by generating and transmitting crafted network traffic targeting the vulnerable TabGroups interfaces. When the browser processes this malformed network traffic, the authorization routines fail to verify the sender's identity or privilege level, treating the unauthorized request as a legitimate command or query. Consequently, the browser executes the requested actions, which permits the unauthorized retrieval of data structured within active tab groups.\nThe attack flow can be conceptualized in the following steps:\n1. Reconnaissance and Session Target: The remote attacker identifies an active Google Chrome instance running a vulnerable version prior to 152.0.7977.65 that is exposed to network-level communication, such as synchronization channels or remote debugging interfaces.\n2. Payload Crafting: The adversary constructs a series of malicious network packets specifically designed to interface with the TabGroups service endpoints. This payload exploits the missing or weak authorization check by mimicking internal or authorized administrative traffic.\n3. Transmission: The attacker transmits the crafted network traffic directly to the target system or forces the victim's browser to initiate a network connection that triggers the vulnerable handler.\n4. Execution and Authorization Bypass: The TabGroups backend parses the crafted traffic. Due to the incorrect authorization flaw, the component fails to restrict access, validating the request despite the lack of proper cryptographic tokens or origin verification.\n5. Information Leakage: The browser processes the request and returns sensitive information, which may include tab URLs, active tab group metadata, state configurations, or session-related data, leaking this intelligence back to the remote attacker.\nThe post-exploitation impact of this vulnerability is primarily classified as information disclosure. Exposed tab metadata and session state could allow an attacker to reconstruct user browsing history, hijack session contexts, or gather intelligence for secondary, highly targeted attacks."
}