CVE-2026-106281 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Use after free in Tint in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.39 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code outside 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 error within the Tint component of Google Chrome prior to version 155.0.8059.39 represents a critical memory management flaw that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of user data. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this specific instance, the Tint shader compiler, which is responsible for translating high-level shading languages into GPU-executable code, failed to properly manage the lifecycle of certain objects during compilation or execution phases. This oversight allows a remote attacker who crafts a specially designed HTML page containing malicious JavaScript and WebGL content to trigger the premature deallocation of memory while references to that memory are still active within the application context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for arbitrary code execution outside the browser sandbox. Modern web browsers rely heavily on sandboxing techniques, such as site isolation and process separation, to limit the damage caused by successful exploits. By exploiting a use-after-free condition in Tint, an attacker can manipulate memory structures to achieve control over program flow or execute shellcode within the context of the renderer process. If the browser's security mitigations are bypassed through additional exploitation techniques such as heap spraying or specific gadget chains, this flaw could allow code execution with higher privileges than intended by the sandbox model. This effectively breaks down the isolation boundaries that protect users from malicious web content, potentially leading to full system compromise depending on the user's privilege level and installed security software.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-416, which describes use after free errors resulting in undefined behavior or crashes. The exploitation vector is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically Command and Scripting Interpreter sub-techniques if the exploit leads to script execution, but more critically it relates to privilege escalation vectors where sandbox escape mechanisms are targeted. Attackers typically leverage such vulnerabilities by embedding malicious scripts in phishing emails or compromised websites that prompt users to visit a crafted URL. Once visited, the browser processes the hostile content, triggering the memory corruption flaw within Tint and allowing the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the victim's machine.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 155.0.8059.39 or later, where these memory management issues have been addressed by developers through rigorous code reviews and automated fuzzing tests that detect dangling pointer usage. Organizations should enforce automatic update policies for all endpoints running the browser to ensure timely patch deployment. Additionally, security teams can implement application whitelisting solutions like Microsoft AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control to restrict the execution of untrusted scripts and binaries, thereby reducing the attack surface even if a vulnerability is exploited. Network-level protections such as web filtering proxies should also be configured to block access to known malicious domains that host exploit kits targeting browser vulnerabilities. Regular security awareness training for users remains essential to prevent them from interacting with suspicious links or downloading unknown files that may contain payloads designed to trigger these types of memory corruption flaws.