CVE-2026-113168 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Use after free in Permissions 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: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free error within the permissions handling subsystem of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a critical memory management flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This specific class of defect occurs when the application continues to reference a memory block after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this context, the permissions module is responsible for managing access rights and security contexts for web content. When an attacker crafts a specially designed HTML page containing JavaScript or other executable code, they can trigger conditions where the browser attempts to access memory associated with permission states after those resources have been deallocated. This discrepancy between pointer validity and actual memory state creates an opportunity for arbitrary code execution within the restricted sandbox environment that normally isolates web content from the host operating system.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow attackers to manipulate heap structures or overwrite adjacent data in memory. By carefully controlling the allocation and deallocation of objects related to permissions, an attacker can place malicious code into the freed memory space. When the browser subsequently accesses this corrupted pointer, it effectively executes the injected payload rather than performing legitimate operations. Although Chromium classifies this security severity as Low, likely due to the complexity required to reliably exploit the condition or limited attack surface in typical browsing scenarios, the potential impact remains severe. Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution inside the sandbox, which is a significant escalation of privilege relative to standard web content restrictions. This breach allows the attacker to bypass isolation boundaries that are designed to prevent malicious websites from affecting other parts of the system or accessing sensitive user data directly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate code execution. If an attacker successfully exploits this flaw, they can potentially escalate privileges by breaking out of the sandboxed environment. This could lead to full compromise of the victim's machine, including access to files, credentials, and other applications running on the system. The presence of such a flaw in core components like permissions handling indicates that even routine interactions with maliciously crafted web pages carry inherent risks if the browser is not updated promptly. Users relying on Chrome for secure browsing are exposed to these threats whenever they visit sites containing exploit code designed to trigger this specific memory corruption sequence.
To mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability, it is imperative to update Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.47 or later immediately upon availability. This patch includes fixes for the underlying memory management issues within the permissions module, ensuring that freed resources are properly nullified and cannot be reused maliciously. Additionally, users should maintain strict browsing hygiene by avoiding suspicious websites and utilizing security extensions that block known malicious content where possible. From a development standpoint, this incident reinforces the importance of rigorous static analysis and fuzzing during the software lifecycle to detect use-after-free conditions before deployment. Industry standards such as CWE-416, which defines Use After Free vulnerabilities, highlight the need for careful pointer management and reference counting in C++ applications like Chromium. Furthermore, defense-in-depth strategies aligned with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and privilege escalation should be employed to limit the blast radius of any successful exploitation attempt.