CVE-2026-110161 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2026
Use after free in Network in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.79 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via crafted network traffic. (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 Chromium-based browser engine, specifically affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 155.0.8059.79, represents a critical memory corruption flaw in the network processing subsystem. This type of error occurs when an application continues to use a pointer after it has been freed from memory, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this specific instance, the flaw resides within the components responsible for handling incoming network traffic, which are typically executed with elevated privileges relative to other browser processes due to their need to manage complex protocol states and data streams. The severity is classified as critical because it allows a remote attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution outside of the browser's sandbox environment, effectively bypassing one of the most important security mechanisms designed to contain potential exploits within isolated process boundaries.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in high-level applications like web browsers because they provide attackers with significant control over memory layout and content. When an object is deallocated but references to it remain active, those dangling pointers can be manipulated through subsequent allocations or network inputs. An attacker crafting specific malicious network traffic could trigger the premature release of a critical data structure while retaining valid handles to that same memory region. By carefully controlling what new objects are allocated in the freed space, often referred to as heap grooming, an adversary can overwrite function pointers or object metadata with controlled values. This manipulation allows for precise control over program execution flow, facilitating the transition from simple memory corruption to full arbitrary code execution on the victim's system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its remote exploitability and sandbox escape capability. Since the flaw is triggered via crafted network traffic, it can potentially be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously constructed webpage or receiving a specially formatted data stream. The ability to execute code outside the sandbox means that an attacker gains access to the underlying operating system with the privileges of the browser process. This level of access enables the installation of persistent malware, theft of sensitive credentials stored in the browser profile, interception of unencrypted communications, and further lateral movement within a network if the user is part of a corporate environment. The critical severity rating reflects the high likelihood of exploitation in the wild and the significant compromise to system integrity resulting from successful execution.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate software updates to ensure that all instances of Google Chrome are upgraded to version 155.0.8059.79 or later, where this memory management error has been corrected by ensuring proper lifecycle management of network objects and preventing access to freed memory regions. For organizations unable to patch immediately due to compatibility concerns, deploying web filtering solutions that block known malicious domains or inspecting traffic for anomalous patterns associated with heap exploitation techniques can provide a layer of defense in depth. Additionally, enabling sandbox enforcement policies strictly ensures that even if an exploit is attempted, the potential damage is contained within isolated processes rather than compromising the entire host system.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifier CWE-416, which describes use after free errors where a pointer references memory it has been deallocated from and subsequent operations assume that the memory remains allocated. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access via drive-by compromise and privilege escalation through sandbox escape mechanisms such as T1055 or specific browser exploitation patterns like T1203. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize remediation efforts based on established industry frameworks for vulnerability management and threat intelligence correlation, ensuring that the response is both technically accurate and strategically aligned with broader cybersecurity best practices.