CVE-2026-113022 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Memory corruption in PDFium in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified within PDFium, the open-source PDF rendering engine integrated into Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47, represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This defect allows for potential arbitrary code execution by remote attackers who can lure victims into viewing specially crafted HTML pages containing maliciously constructed PDF content or embedded objects. The severity of this issue is classified as medium within the Chromium security framework, reflecting its ability to bypass isolation boundaries and execute code with elevated privileges relative to the sandboxed renderer process. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they exploit the trust users place in web-based document viewing experiences, turning a standard browsing activity into an attack vector for system compromise.
At a technical level, memory corruption errors typically arise from improper handling of data structures within the PDF parsing logic. In this specific instance, the flaw likely involves issues such as buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or integer overflow vulnerabilities during the processing of complex PDF elements. When Chrome renders HTML content that includes embedded PDFs or triggers PDFium functions to display documents, it relies on strict memory management protocols. A crafted payload can manipulate these internal structures to write data beyond allocated boundaries or access freed memory regions. This manipulation corrupts the heap or stack, allowing an attacker to control program flow and inject shellcode into the process space. The success of such exploitation depends heavily on the specific version of PDFium being used and whether additional mitigations like ASLR or DEP are fully effective against the particular corruption technique employed by the exploit code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it facilitates remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. Once arbitrary code executes within the renderer process, attackers can attempt to escape the sandbox environment to gain access to the underlying operating system. This could lead to full system compromise, including data theft, installation of persistent malware, or use of the infected machine as part of a botnet. The medium severity rating suggests that while exploitation may require specific conditions or additional steps beyond simple memory corruption, such as bypassing other security controls like ASLR alignment, it remains a viable threat for targeted attacks and automated drive-by download campaigns. Organizations relying on Chrome for secure document viewing must recognize that even sandboxed processes are not immune to sophisticated exploits targeting rendering engines.
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, immediate action is required to update Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.47 or later across all endpoints and servers where it is deployed. This patch includes fixes for the underlying memory management issues in PDFium that allow such corruption to occur. In environments where automatic updates are not feasible, administrators should enforce strict browser update policies through centralized configuration tools. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting can prevent unauthorized executables from running if an exploit succeeds, thereby limiting the impact of a potential breach. Network-level controls such as web filtering and sandboxing solutions that analyze downloaded files before they reach the endpoint can also reduce exposure to crafted HTML pages containing malicious PDF content.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input or CWE-416 Use After Free, depending on the exact nature of the memory corruption observed in forensic analysis. These categories highlight fundamental programming errors that lead to unstable software behavior and security breaches. Furthermore, the attack vector corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1189 Drive-by Compromise, where attackers exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers or plugins to infect systems without direct user action beyond visiting a site. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize remediation efforts based on industry-standard frameworks that track common weakness types and adversary tactics. Continuous monitoring for indicators of compromise related to PDF rendering anomalies can also aid in detecting attempts to exploit this flaw before full system penetration occurs.