CVE-2026-106278 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Use after free in Select in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.39 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering 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 • 10/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within the Select component of Google Chrome prior to version 155.0.8059.39 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This specific defect arises when an object is accessed after its memory has been freed, typically due to improper handling of references or pointers in the rendering engine. In this context, the Select element, which manages dropdown lists and user selections within HTML forms, fails to properly invalidate internal data structures upon deallocation. Consequently, if a crafted webpage triggers the deletion of such an object while retaining a reference to it, subsequent operations on that stale pointer can lead to arbitrary memory reads or writes. This scenario is particularly dangerous because it allows for precise control over memory contents, which attackers exploit to achieve code execution within the browser's restricted environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution via social engineering. An attacker does not need direct access to the victim's system but instead relies on tricking a user into visiting a maliciously crafted HTML page or clicking a link that loads such content. Once loaded, the exploit leverages the use-after-free condition in the Select component to bypass Chrome’s sandbox protections. The sandbox is designed to isolate untrusted web content from the rest of the operating system, preventing malware installation and data theft. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker can escape this isolation layer, gaining a higher level of privileges within the browser process. This escalation allows for the execution of arbitrary code on the user's machine, potentially leading to full system compromise, including the exfiltration of sensitive personal or corporate data, installation of persistent malware, and further lateral movement within a network if connected devices are accessible from the compromised host.
From a technical classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which defines use-after-free errors as accessing memory after it has been freed. This category of bugs is notoriously difficult to detect statically because they often depend on specific timing conditions and race states that occur during runtime execution. Furthermore, the exploitation technique maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to process injection or sandbox escape, specifically those involving browser-based attacks such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter through web browsers or T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution. The high severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects the ease with which this flaw can be weaponized given the widespread use of HTML forms and select elements in modern web applications, making it a attractive target for drive-by download attacks and phishing campaigns that aim to bypass traditional security controls.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching to version 155.0.8059.39 or later, where Google has implemented fixes to ensure proper lifecycle management of objects within the Select component. Developers should enforce strict pointer invalidation after deallocation and utilize memory safety tools during development to detect such issues early in the software development life cycle. For end-users, enabling automatic updates for Chrome is critical to ensuring that security patches are applied promptly without manual intervention. Additionally, organizations should employ browser hardening techniques such as disabling JavaScript execution on untrusted sites or using extensions that restrict access to sensitive APIs until user consent is explicitly granted. Regular security awareness training can also reduce the risk of social engineering attacks by helping users identify and avoid malicious links and suspicious web content that may attempt to exploit this vulnerability.