CVE-2026-113269 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Memory corruption in BrowserTag 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: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as a memory corruption issue within the BrowserTag component of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a significant risk vector for remote code execution attacks. This flaw resides in a core browser engine module responsible for managing tab states and associated metadata, which is frequently accessed during standard web browsing operations. The severity rating from the Chromium security team as Low indicates that while the vulnerability exists within a privileged context relative to typical web content, it likely requires specific conditions or user interaction to be fully exploited, such as visiting a specially crafted HTML page designed to trigger the memory error.
From a technical perspective, memory corruption vulnerabilities in browser engines often stem from improper handling of heap allocations, use-after-free errors, or buffer overflows within C++ codebases that form the foundation of Chromium-based browsers. In this specific instance, the BrowserTag component likely failed to properly validate data structures or manage memory lifecycles when processing input derived from a malicious HTML page. This failure allows an attacker to manipulate internal pointers or overwrite adjacent memory regions with controlled values. By carefully crafting the payload within the HTML content, including embedded scripts and malformed DOM elements, an adversary can trigger this corruption in a way that grants them control over program execution flow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the browser's sandboxed environment.
The operational impact of successfully exploiting this vulnerability is severe despite its low severity classification by Chromium developers. A successful exploit would allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the victim's system with the privileges of the current user. Although modern browsers employ robust sandboxing mechanisms designed to isolate web content from the host operating system, memory corruption bugs can sometimes be chained with other vulnerabilities or leveraged through sophisticated techniques like heap spraying and ROP chains to escape these sandboxes. This could result in full system compromise, including data theft, installation of malware, or use of the device as part of a botnet. The attack vector is classified as remote, meaning no physical access or prior authentication on the target machine is required; interaction with the malicious webpage via email links, compromised websites, or drive-by downloads is sufficient to initiate the exploit.
In terms of industry standard classifications, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and potentially CWE-416 Use After Free, depending on the specific nature of the memory corruption observed in the BrowserTag module. From a tactical perspective relevant to threat intelligence frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this falls under T1189 Drive-by Compromise, where attackers rely on unsuspecting users visiting compromised or maliciously crafted web pages. It also relates to T1055 Process Injection if the exploit attempts to inject code into legitimate browser processes to evade detection and maintain persistence within the sandboxed environment before attempting any potential escape mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies primarily focus on immediate software updates, as Google has released version 156.0.8078.47 which addresses this specific memory corruption flaw in the BrowserTag component. Administrators should ensure that all Chrome installations are updated to this patched version or later immediately upon availability. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, automated patch management systems should be configured to prioritize browser updates due to the high prevalence and impact of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, users can employ defense-in-depth measures such as enabling site isolation features within Chrome settings, which restricts how much data different websites can access from each other, thereby reducing the attack surface for memory corruption exploits. Deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that monitor for anomalous process behavior or unexpected network connections originating from browser processes can also help detect exploitation attempts in real-time, providing an additional layer of security beyond patch management alone.