CVE-2026-110138 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
Use after free in ShapeDetection in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.79 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within the ShapeDetection API of Google Chrome prior to version 155.0.8059.79 represents a critical memory safety flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This specific defect arises when an object is deallocated from memory but continues to be referenced by other parts of the application, leading to undefined behavior upon subsequent access. In the context of web browsers, such memory corruption issues are particularly dangerous because they can often be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The ShapeDetection API, which allows websites to detect shapes and faces in images or video streams, involves complex interactions between JavaScript engines and native C++ components. When these interfaces manage dynamic memory allocation for image processing tasks, a failure to properly invalidate pointers after freeing the underlying data structure creates an opportunity for exploitation by malicious actors.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-416, which classifies use-after-free errors as one of the most prevalent and severe classes of software vulnerabilities. The operational impact is significant because it allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the browser's sandbox environment. Typically, modern browsers isolate web content in sandboxes to limit the damage caused by compromised pages. However, if an attacker can exploit this memory corruption flaw within the renderer process, they may bypass these isolation boundaries. This escalation of privilege enables the execution of malicious payloads with the same permissions as the user running the browser, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or installation of persistent malware on the victim's device.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is classified as remote via a crafted HTML page, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpretation through web browsers. An attacker would need to host a malicious webpage containing specially constructed code that triggers the use-after-free condition within the ShapeDetection module. When an unsuspecting user visits this page or interacts with its content in a specific way, the browser processes the malformed input, leading to memory corruption. This scenario highlights the ongoing challenge of securing complex web APIs against sophisticated exploitation techniques designed to abuse legitimate functionality for malicious ends.
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, it is imperative that users and organizations update Google Chrome to version 155.0.8059.79 or later immediately. These updates contain patches that correct the memory management logic within the ShapeDetection component, ensuring that pointers are properly invalidated after deallocation and preventing access to freed memory regions. Additionally, security teams should enforce strict content security policies and consider deploying browser isolation technologies such as Microsoft Edge IE Mode or third-party sandboxing solutions to further limit the impact of potential renderer process compromises. Regular patch management cycles and monitoring for emerging exploits targeting known vulnerabilities in widely used software components are essential practices for maintaining a robust defense posture against web-based attacks.