CVE-2026-110157 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
Use after free in SVG 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: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves a use-after-free error within the SVG rendering engine of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 155.0.8059.79. This type of memory corruption flaw occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after it has been freed or deallocated from memory. In the context of browser security, such errors are particularly dangerous because they can lead to arbitrary code execution if an attacker can control the data that overwrites the dangling pointer. The Chromium project classifies this issue with a High severity rating, indicating that while exploitation may require specific conditions, the potential impact on system integrity is significant and warrants immediate attention from users and administrators alike.
From a technical perspective, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files are processed by Chrome's rendering engine to display graphical content within web pages. When an HTML page containing crafted SVG elements is loaded, the browser parses these elements and allocates memory for their representation in the Document Object Model and subsequent rendering pipeline. If the application logic fails to properly manage the lifecycle of these objects—specifically if it frees a memory block associated with an SVG element but retains references to that same block elsewhere—the resulting dangling pointer becomes a target for exploitation. An attacker can craft an HTML page where specific actions trigger the deallocation of certain SVG resources while other parts of the code still attempt to access them. By carefully controlling what data is written into the freed memory region, often through subsequent allocations or user interactions, an attacker can manipulate program control flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple crashes or denial of service. Because Chrome operates within a sandboxed environment designed to limit the damage caused by compromised web content, successful exploitation requires bypassing these security boundaries. However, use-after-free vulnerabilities are frequently leveraged in conjunction with other techniques to escape the browser's sandbox and execute arbitrary code on the host system. This means that a remote attacker could potentially install malware, steal sensitive data such as cookies or credentials, or take full control of the victim's machine by delivering a malicious HTML page via phishing emails, compromised websites, or drive-by downloads. The ability to execute code inside the sandbox implies that standard browser protections may be insufficient without additional mitigations like exploit mitigation technologies enabled at the operating system level.
To mitigate this risk, users must upgrade Google Chrome to version 155.0.8059.79 or later as soon as possible. This update contains patches for the memory management logic within the SVG engine that prevent the dangling pointer from being accessed after deallocation. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, deploying this patch through centralized endpoint management systems is critical to ensure uniform protection against remote code execution attacks. Additionally, enabling automatic updates ensures that future security fixes are applied promptly without requiring manual intervention. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to SVG-based exploits and consider implementing browser hardening policies such as disabling JavaScript in untrusted sites or using content security policies to restrict the loading of external resources where feasible.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-416, which describes use after free conditions. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this flaw facilitates techniques associated with MITRE ATT&CK tactic TA0002 Execution and specifically relates to methods that exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities for privilege escalation or sandbox escape. Understanding the mechanics behind such flaws helps in developing more robust defensive strategies, including fuzzing SVG parsers during development and employing static analysis tools to detect improper memory management patterns before software release. Continuous vigilance regarding browser updates remains one of the most effective defenses against these sophisticated remote exploitation attempts.