CVE-2026-11154 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 06/05/2026
Use after free in Dawn in Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.53 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2026
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition in the Dawn graphics API implementation within Google Chrome's renderer process. The flaw occurs when memory allocated for Dawn resources is freed but subsequently accessed by subsequent operations, creating a potential exploitation vector for attackers who have already compromised the renderer sandbox. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the graphics processing pipeline where Dawn handles graphics operations for web content. When a malicious HTML page triggers specific graphics operations, the memory management routines fail to properly track resource lifetimes, leading to situations where freed memory can be reallocated and accessed by attacker-controlled code.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond typical memory corruption issues as it specifically targets the renderer process which operates under strict sandboxing restrictions. A successful exploitation could allow an attacker to escape the sandbox boundaries and gain access to system resources that should remain isolated from web content. This represents a significant escalation risk since the renderer process already has access to user data and can interact with the system through various APIs. The medium severity classification reflects the complexity of exploitation required, which involves compromising the renderer process first before leveraging the use-after-free condition for sandbox escape.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which describes the use of freed memory condition. The flaw demonstrates poor resource management practices within the Dawn graphics implementation where object lifetimes are not properly tracked during concurrent graphics operations. The attack surface involves the interaction between the web content rendering pipeline and the underlying graphics API implementation, where HTML pages containing specific WebGL or WebGPU operations can trigger the problematic code paths. This vulnerability specifically affects the graphics processing subsystem that handles accelerated rendering operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where graphics-intensive web content is common.
The operational impact of this vulnerability requires that attackers first gain control of the renderer process through separate exploitation techniques, typically involving other vulnerabilities or social engineering. Once inside the renderer process, the attacker can craft specific HTML content that triggers the use-after-free condition in Dawn's memory management. This attack pattern follows common exploitation methodologies where initial access is achieved through separate vectors before leveraging privilege escalation techniques. The sandbox escape capability means that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for users who encounter malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Chrome updates to version 149.0.7827.53 or later, which contain fixes for the memory management issues in Dawn's implementation. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to reduce exposure to malicious content. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary graphics APIs and implementing strict security policies for web content execution can further reduce risk. Additionally, monitoring for unusual graphics API usage patterns and implementing process isolation techniques can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper memory lifecycle management and adding additional validation checks to prevent freed memory access. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource management in graphics APIs and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of graphics processing components in web browsers.