CVE-2026-103622 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2026
Use after free in SVG in Google Chrome prior to 154.0.8037.97 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical use-after-free flaw within the SVG rendering engine of Google Chrome prior to version 154.0.8037.97. This memory corruption issue arises when the browser fails to properly manage the lifecycle of objects associated with Scalable Vector Graphics elements, specifically allowing access to memory that has already been deallocated by the system. In modern web browsers, SVG content is processed through complex rendering pipelines where DOM nodes are frequently created and destroyed during dynamic page interactions or animations. When a reference to an object persists after its underlying memory has been freed, any subsequent operation targeting that stale pointer results in undefined behavior. This specific implementation flaw was identified with high severity by the Chromium security team due to its potential for exploitation leading to arbitrary code execution within the browser's sandboxed environment.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are among the most dangerous classes of memory safety errors because they provide attackers with significant control over program flow and data manipulation. By carefully crafting an HTML page that triggers the premature deallocation of SVG-related objects while maintaining active references to them, an attacker can manipulate the heap layout. This allows for the injection of malicious payloads into freed memory regions or the corruption of internal browser structures such as function pointers or object vtables. When the browser subsequently attempts to interact with these corrupted structures, it may execute arbitrary instructions supplied by the attacker rather than performing legitimate rendering tasks. The ability to achieve code execution inside the sandbox is particularly concerning because modern browsers rely on strict isolation boundaries between renderer processes and the operating system kernel to contain damage from web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage or denial of service, as it enables remote attackers to bypass security mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to install malware, steal sensitive user credentials, hijack browser sessions, or pivot into the underlying host system if sandbox escape techniques are combined with this initial foothold. The attack vector is classified as remote, meaning that a victim only needs to visit a maliciously crafted webpage hosted by an adversary for the exploit chain to initiate. This lowers the barrier for entry significantly compared to local exploits and makes targeted phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios highly effective vectors for distribution.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which defines use after free as a condition where software uses memory after it has been freed, often leading to crashes, data corruption, or arbitrary code execution. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this flaw facilitates techniques related to Initial Access and Execution, specifically leveraging browser vulnerabilities for drive-by compromises. The exploitation path typically involves constructing a malicious HTML document that triggers specific SVG rendering operations, causing the memory manager to release resources while keeping pointers alive in JavaScript or DOM structures. Subsequent interactions with these dangling pointers trigger the out-of-bounds access or arbitrary write primitives necessary for code execution.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 154.0.8037.97 or later, where the underlying memory management logic has been patched to ensure proper reference counting and nullification of pointers after deallocation. Organizations should enforce automated update policies across all endpoints running this browser to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, users can employ security features such as site isolation and sandboxing enhancements provided by newer Chromium versions to limit the blast radius if a vulnerability is encountered. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious SVG processing or unusual memory allocation patterns in endpoint detection systems, although proactive patching remains the most effective defense against this class of high-severity browser vulnerabilities.