CVE-2026-113111 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Use after free in Compositing 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 error within the Compositing subsystem of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a critical memory management flaw that undermines the browser's sandbox integrity. This specific defect occurs when the rendering engine retains a reference to a graphics object or data structure after it has been deallocated by the system. In modern web browsers, the compositing layer is responsible for assembling various visual elements into final frames displayed on the screen. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that triggers this sequence of events, they can manipulate memory states such that the browser attempts to access or modify freed memory regions. This scenario creates a window where arbitrary code execution becomes possible within the restricted sandbox environment designed to isolate web content from the host operating system.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow attackers to control how freed memory is reused by subsequent allocations. By carefully crafting the payload and timing of object deallocation versus access, an attacker can achieve arbitrary read or write primitives. In the context of Chrome's sandbox architecture, which relies on strict process isolation and privilege separation, bypassing these controls via a compositing flaw allows code to escape the confined renderer process. This escalation enables the execution of arbitrary commands with higher privileges than those granted to standard web content, effectively compromising the security boundary that protects the user from malicious websites. The severity is classified as medium by Chromium standards due to the complexity required to exploit this specific path reliably across different platforms and hardware configurations, yet its potential impact remains severe given the direct route to sandbox escape.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple page rendering errors or crashes. Successful exploitation allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine through a crafted HTML page accessed via standard web browsing activities such as visiting a compromised website or opening a malicious email link containing embedded content. This can lead to full system compromise, including data theft, installation of persistent malware, and lateral movement within networked environments. The ability to bypass sandbox restrictions means that even if the browser itself remains stable, the underlying operating system is no longer protected against code originating from web applications. Users relying on Chrome for sensitive tasks such as online banking or corporate communications are at significant risk unless they ensure their software is up to date with patches addressing this memory corruption issue.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching of Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.47 or later, which includes fixes for the underlying memory management logic in the compositing module. Organizations should enforce automated update policies to ensure all endpoints are protected against known vulnerabilities promptly. Additionally, users can employ browser hardening techniques such as disabling JavaScript execution on untrusted sites using extensions like NoScript or leveraging Chrome's site isolation features more aggressively to limit the blast radius of any potential exploit. Security monitoring tools should be configured to detect anomalous memory access patterns or sandbox escape attempts associated with known exploitation kits targeting this specific vulnerability class.
This incident aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which describes use after free conditions where a pointer is used after its memory has been freed leading to unpredictable behavior and potential security breaches. Furthermore, the attack vector corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation typically involves executing scripts or commands within the compromised environment. The reliance on crafted HTML pages places this vulnerability under initial access vectors where social engineering or drive-by download tactics are employed by threat actors. Continuous vigilance regarding browser version updates remains the most effective defense against such memory corruption vulnerabilities that target core rendering engines in widely deployed software applications.