CVE-2026-113211 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Memory corruption in ServiceWorker in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The vulnerability identified as a memory corruption flaw within the ServiceWorker component of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a significant breach in browser-based isolation mechanisms. ServiceWorkers are scripts that run in the background, separate from web pages, enabling features such as offline experiences, push notifications, and background sync operations. These components operate within a sandboxed environment designed to restrict their access to system resources and prevent them from interacting directly with other parts of the operating system or user data. The presence of memory corruption errors in this specific module indicates that an attacker could manipulate internal state variables or heap structures during the execution of ServiceWorker scripts, leading to undefined behavior that extends beyond the intended sandbox boundaries.
From a technical perspective, memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes. In the context of Chrome's architecture, this likely involves issues such as use-after-free conditions, buffer overflows, or integer overflow errors within the ServiceWorker runtime engine. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that triggers these flawed code paths, they can overwrite adjacent memory regions with controlled data. This manipulation allows for arbitrary read and write operations in memory space allocated to other processes or higher-privilege components of the browser. The severity is classified as medium by Chromium security standards because while it requires user interaction via a crafted webpage, the potential consequence involves escaping the sandbox, which fundamentally undermines the core security model of modern web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its remote exploitability and potential for code execution outside the sandbox. A successful exploitation would allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the victim's system with the privileges of the browser process. This could lead to full system compromise, including theft of sensitive data such as cookies, session tokens, passwords stored in browsers, or access to local files if permissions are misconfigured. The ability to escape the sandbox is particularly dangerous because it bypasses many defense-in-depth layers that protect against typical web-based attacks like cross-site scripting (XSS) or drive-by downloads. Attackers could leverage this foothold to install persistent malware, establish command-and-control channels, or pivot into internal network segments if the victim's machine has broader connectivity rights.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration categories such as CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and CWE-416 Use After Free, which are prevalent in complex software systems like browsers where manual memory management or intricate reference counting mechanisms are employed. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit scenario maps to techniques involving client-side code execution and sandbox escape, specifically falling under adversary actions that leverage browser vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation. The attack vector is classified as remote with user interaction required, meaning the victim must visit a maliciously crafted webpage or have it loaded automatically through social engineering tactics like phishing links embedded in emails or messages.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching to version 156.0.8078.47 or later, where these memory management flaws have been addressed by Google's security team. Organizations should enforce automatic update policies for Chrome across all endpoints to ensure timely application of security patches. Additionally, users can reduce risk by disabling JavaScript in untrusted environments or using browser extensions that restrict ServiceWorker capabilities, although this may impact functionality on legitimate sites. Security teams should also monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections from the Chrome process and employ endpoint detection and response solutions capable of identifying anomalous memory access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on web application security can further help identify similar flaws in custom implementations or third-party extensions that interact with browser APIs.