CVE-2026-113041 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Use after free in Actor 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: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the Actor component of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a critical memory safety issue that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This class of defect occurs when an application continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this specific instance, the flaw resides in how Chrome manages objects associated with web content processing, specifically within components responsible for handling actor-based interactions or similar high-level abstractions used during page rendering and script execution. The severity is classified as medium by Chromium standards, yet its potential impact on system security remains significant due to the context in which it operates.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves a timing error where an object reference persists beyond its valid lifetime. When a crafted HTML page triggers specific sequences of events within the browser engine, the underlying memory management logic fails to properly invalidate or nullify pointers after deallocation. Consequently, subsequent operations that rely on these stale references interact with freed memory regions. This interaction can result in arbitrary code execution because an attacker can control the contents of the reclaimed memory through heap spraying techniques or other allocation strategies. By carefully crafting the HTML and associated JavaScript payloads, a remote attacker can manipulate the state of the browser process to execute malicious instructions within the context of the compromised renderer process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution via a web page. Although Chrome employs robust sandboxing to isolate different processes, successful exploitation allows an attacker to break out of or compromise the integrity of the isolated environment. This can lead to data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or further lateral movement within a victim's network if additional vulnerabilities are chained with this initial foothold. The ability to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox indicates that the fundamental isolation guarantees provided by modern browsers were bypassed, posing a direct threat to user privacy and system integrity for anyone visiting maliciously constructed websites.
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. Users should ensure automatic updates are enabled to receive patches promptly as they become available. From a defensive posture perspective, organizations can employ application whitelisting policies to restrict the execution of untrusted scripts and utilize browser hardening configurations that limit script access to sensitive APIs. Additionally, deploying network-level security controls such as web filtering proxies can help block traffic from known malicious domains before they reach end-user devices, reducing the attack surface available for exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which describes use after free conditions that lead to unpredictable program behavior and potential code execution. In terms of tactical mapping within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit technique corresponds to techniques involving memory corruption or sandbox escape methods used during initial access and privilege escalation phases. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize patching efforts based on industry-standard risk assessments and threat intelligence regarding common exploitation patterns observed in the wild against popular web browsers.