CVE-2026-2648 is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the PDFium library integrated within Google Chrome versions prior to 145.0.7632.109. PDFium is responsible for rendering PDF documents inside the browser. The vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking during PDF processing, allowing a crafted PDF file to perform an out-of-bounds memory write on the heap. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process, potentially allowing an attacker to execute malicious payloads remotely. Exploitation requires the victim to open or preview a malicious PDF file in Chrome, but no authentication or user privileges beyond normal browsing are necessary. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the Chromium security team has classified this as a high severity issue due to the potential impact and ease of exploitation. The vulnerability affects all Chrome installations running versions before 145.0.7632.109, which is the patched release. The absence of a CVSS score means severity must be inferred from the nature of the flaw: heap buffer overflows enabling remote code execution are typically critical or high severity. The scope includes all users of vulnerable Chrome versions, which is significant given Chrome's dominant market share. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations that frequently handle PDF documents, such as financial institutions, legal firms, and government agencies, as attackers could deliver malicious PDFs via email or web downloads. The patch release addresses the bounds checking flaw in PDFium, preventing out-of-bounds writes. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, but the risk remains high until widespread patching occurs.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-2648 can be substantial. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution within the browser context, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive data, or move laterally within networks. This is particularly critical for sectors that rely heavily on PDF documents, such as finance, legal, healthcare, and government, where confidential information is routinely exchanged. The vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted phishing campaigns delivering malicious PDFs, increasing the risk of data breaches and operational disruption. Additionally, compromised browsers could serve as entry points for further malware deployment or espionage activities. Given the widespread use of Google Chrome across European enterprises and public institutions, unpatched systems represent a significant attack surface. The potential for disruption to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data is high. Moreover, regulatory frameworks like GDPR impose strict requirements on data protection, and exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. Therefore, the threat poses a notable risk to European organizations' cybersecurity posture and operational continuity.

To mitigate CVE-2026-2648, European organizations should immediately update all Google Chrome installations to version 145.0.7632.109 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Automated patch management tools should be leveraged to ensure rapid deployment across all endpoints. Organizations should consider disabling in-browser PDF preview features temporarily to reduce exposure, especially in high-risk environments. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with behavior-based detection can help identify exploitation attempts involving anomalous PDF processing or memory corruption. Network-level defenses such as email filtering and sandboxing should be enhanced to detect and block malicious PDF attachments. User awareness training should emphasize caution when opening PDFs from untrusted sources. Additionally, restricting the use of third-party PDF readers and enforcing strict application whitelisting can reduce the attack surface. Monitoring browser crash logs and unusual process behavior can provide early indicators of exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should review and update incident response plans to address potential exploitation scenarios involving this vulnerability.