# CVE-2026-57501: Zen Browser Privilege Escalation in Glance and Split-View Context Menus

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57501-zen-browser-privilege-escalation-in-glance-and-split-view-context  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-09. Updated: 2026-07-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-57501 · Severity: info · CVSS 0 · Published 2026-07-09

Zen Browser is a web browser based on Firefox. A security flaw in the browser's "glance" and "split-view" features could allow a malicious website to trick the browser into opening local files with elevated system privileges. While this requires the user to manually right-click a link and select a specific menu option, it could allow an attacker to bypass security restrictions that normally prevent websites from accessing files on your computer.

Technologies: [Zen Browser](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/zen-browser). Vendors: [Zen Browser](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/zen-browser).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-57501 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-57501 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-57501?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 0, published 9 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Zen Browser < 1.21.5b.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-57501?** A patch was published on 2026-07-02: Fixed in version 1.21.5b Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-57501 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-57501?** Check whether you run Zen Browser at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Zen Browser's 'Open link in glance' and 'Split link in new tab' context-menu actions. These features load page-controlled URLs using the System principal instead of the originating page's principal. This flaw allows a malicious web page to bypass standard content-to-file security checks by linking to a 'file://' URL. If a user interacts with the link via the affected context-menu items, the target loads with System privileges. While testing indicated that 'javascript:' and 'chrome://' targets are not affected, the vulnerability allows for the exposure of local files. The issue is resolved in version 1.21.5b.

## Affected products

- Zen Browser Zen Browser < 1.21.5b

## Timeline

- 2026-07-02: patched: Fixed in version 1.21.5b
- 2026-07-09: disclosed: Advisory published via GitHub and NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/commit/44f7616238208200547c7df500d945752d7b6379](https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/commit/44f7616238208200547c7df500d945752d7b6379)
- [https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/tag/1.21.5b](https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/releases/tag/1.21.5b)
- [https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/security/advisories/GHSA-vpvg-hp3v-rm5q](https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/security/advisories/GHSA-vpvg-hp3v-rm5q)

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