CVE-2026-110151 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2026
Use after free in Media in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.79 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Critical)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within the media subsystem of Google Chrome prior to version 155.0.8059.79 represents a critical memory safety flaw that compromises the integrity of the browser's execution environment. This specific class of error occurs 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 instance, the flaw resides in how Chrome handles media-related objects during their lifecycle management, specifically failing to properly invalidate references or nullify pointers once the underlying resources are released. This oversight creates a window of opportunity where an attacker can manipulate memory state through carefully crafted inputs, effectively bypassing standard safety checks that rely on valid object states for secure operation.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416, which defines use after free as a situation where software uses memory after it has been freed. The operational mechanism involves an attacker hosting or directing a victim to a specially crafted HTML page containing malicious JavaScript and media elements designed to trigger the race condition or improper state transition within the browser's rendering engine. When the browser processes these elements, it may deallocate certain internal structures associated with media playback while retaining references to them elsewhere in memory. By exploiting this discrepancy, an attacker can write arbitrary data into the freed memory region through subsequent operations, effectively gaining control over program execution flow. This capability allows for the injection and execution of arbitrary code within the context of the browser process, which is particularly dangerous given that modern browsers employ sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of such exploits on the underlying operating system.
The security severity assigned by Chromium as Critical underscores the high likelihood of successful exploitation and the significant potential for harm. Although Chrome implements multiple layers of defense including heap metadata protection, stack canaries, and address space layout randomization, use-after-free vulnerabilities remain among the most prevalent and effective vectors for achieving arbitrary code execution in web browsers. The ability to execute code inside the sandbox is a major concern because while it does not immediately grant full system compromise, it provides the attacker with a foothold within the browser's isolated environment. From this position, further exploitation techniques such as heap spraying or additional memory corruption bugs can be employed to escape the sandbox and achieve arbitrary code execution on the host machine. This progression from local privilege escalation to remote code execution highlights the critical nature of addressing these flaws promptly in widely deployed software like Chrome.
In terms of industry standards mapping, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for client execution, specifically within web browsers. The attack vector is classified as Remote (T1189), indicating that the initial access can be achieved via a crafted HTML page served over the network without requiring user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site or being redirected to it. This classification emphasizes the importance of secure coding practices in handling dynamic memory allocation and deallocation, particularly within complex subsystems like media processing where object lifecycles are managed dynamically based on user interactions and content availability.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 155.0.8059.79 or later, which includes patches that correct the memory management logic in the affected components. These updates typically introduce stricter checks for pointer validity before dereferencing them and ensure that references are properly cleared upon deallocation. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, deploying these updates via centralized patch management systems is essential to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, users should enable automatic update features where possible to ensure timely application of security fixes. While browser sandboxing provides a robust defense-in-depth layer, it is not infallible against sophisticated use-after-free exploits that target specific memory corruption patterns. Therefore, maintaining up-to-date software versions remains the most effective primary control for mitigating this risk. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious network traffic originating from browser processes and consider implementing application whitelisting or strict content security policies to limit the impact if a similar vulnerability were present in unpatched systems.