CVE-2026-112993 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Use after free in Input in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 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 • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free error within the input handling mechanisms of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's core security model. This specific defect occurs when the application continues to reference a memory block after it has been freed, typically due to improper management of object lifecycles during user input processing. In the context of web browsers, such errors are particularly dangerous because they can be triggered by maliciously crafted HTML pages served from remote servers. The attacker constructs a webpage containing specific JavaScript code or DOM manipulations that exploit the timing window between memory deallocation and subsequent access, allowing for arbitrary read and write operations within the browser's process space.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-416, which classifies use-after-free errors as a type of improper resource management. The flaw resides in how Chrome manages input objects, likely involving event handlers or DOM elements that are not properly nullified after their associated memory is released by the garbage collector or explicit cleanup routines. When an attacker triggers this condition through a crafted HTML page, they can manipulate pointers to point to controlled data structures rather than freed memory regions. This manipulation allows for arbitrary code execution because the browser may interpret the maliciously placed data as valid instructions or function pointers, thereby redirecting control flow away from intended operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential to bypass Chrome's sandboxing architecture. Modern browsers employ a multi-process architecture where rendering processes are heavily restricted and run with limited privileges to contain damage in case of exploitation. However, use-after-free vulnerabilities often provide the necessary primitives for an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution within these constrained environments. By carefully crafting heap layouts and exploiting race conditions or pointer dereferences, an attacker can escalate their access from a low-privilege renderer process to one with higher privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise if additional exploitation steps are successful. This capability effectively neutralizes the protective barriers designed to isolate web content from the underlying operating system.
In terms of threat modeling and industry standards, this vulnerability aligns closely with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and execution via browser-based attacks. Specifically, it relates to T1189 Drive-by Compromise, where users are lured into visiting a malicious site that exploits software vulnerabilities without any user interaction beyond loading the page. The high severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects the ease with which this flaw can be weaponized in real-world phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. Attackers do not need to trick users into clicking additional links or downloading files; simply rendering the crafted HTML is sufficient to trigger the exploit chain, making it a potent vector for widespread compromise.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.47 or later, where these memory management issues have been addressed through rigorous code reviews and automated fuzzing tests that detect such lifecycle errors before deployment. For organizations unable to update immediately, network-level controls can provide some protection by blocking access to known malicious domains hosting exploit kits. Additionally, enabling Chrome's Site Isolation feature ensures that sensitive data is not shared across different origins, which may limit the impact of certain memory corruption vulnerabilities even if they are partially exploited. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise associated with browser exploitation campaigns and ensure that endpoint detection systems are configured to flag unusual process behavior stemming from browser processes attempting to execute shellcode or spawn new processes unexpectedly.