CVE-2021-38015Network attack vector

Navigation-restriction bypass via crafted malicious extension

Published Dec 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper input validation in Google Chrome before 96.0.4664.45 allows attackers to bypass navigation restrictions through a crafted extension. The public record identifies the input component but does not disclose the specific validation failure or code locus that accepts the crafted extension input. Exploitation requires a user to install the malicious extension, after which its navigation can evade restrictions; no further consequence is publicly established.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.59%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Google Chrome before 96.0.4664.45 allows attackers to bypass navigation restrictions through a crafted extension. The public record identifies the input component but does not disclose the specific validation failure or code locus that accepts the crafted extension input. Exploitation requires a user to install the malicious extension, after which its navigation can evade restrictions; no further consequence is publicly established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38015
Published
Dec 23, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Google Chrome
Classifications
CWE-20, T1176
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <96.0.4664.45

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Google Chromeversion=unspecified <96.0.4664.45

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1176Browser Extensions

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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