CVE-2026-113272 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Memory corruption in Extensions 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: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9388 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Extensions subsystem of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 156.0.8078.47. This defect stems from improper handling of data structures during the processing of extension-related operations, leading to conditions where heap memory is accessed beyond its allocated boundaries or freed memory is reused without proper validation. Such errors typically manifest as use-after-free scenarios or buffer overflows, which are among the most dangerous classes of software vulnerabilities due to their potential for arbitrary code execution. The root cause lies in a failure by the browser engine to correctly manage the lifecycle and integrity of internal objects associated with web extensions, allowing an attacker who crafts malicious HTML content to trigger these memory corruption states during normal browsing activities.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability exploits the complex interaction between Chrome's sandboxed renderer processes and its extension management system. When a user visits a specially crafted webpage containing embedded scripts or resources that interact with browser extensions, the flawed logic in the Extensions module fails to properly validate pointers or memory allocations. This oversight allows an attacker to manipulate internal state variables, potentially overwriting adjacent memory structures such as function pointers or object headers. By carefully crafting the payload, an adversary can achieve control over the instruction pointer or return address within the renderer process context. Although Chrome employs a multi-process architecture with sandboxing to limit the impact of exploits, successful exploitation in this specific component allows for code execution inside the sandboxed environment, which serves as the first line of defense against system-wide compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it facilitates remote code execution through social engineering or drive-by download techniques. An attacker does not need physical access to the victim's machine nor do they require elevated privileges on the target system. Instead, by hosting a malicious webpage and convincing a user with an affected version of Chrome to visit it, the attacker can trigger the memory corruption flaw. Once arbitrary code is executed within the sandboxed renderer process, the attacker gains the ability to perform actions such as reading sensitive data stored in browser cookies or local storage, injecting further malware into the browsing session, or attempting privilege escalation attacks to break out of the sandbox and gain control over the underlying operating system. This capability undermines the fundamental security model that relies on isolation between web content and user credentials.
In terms of industry classification standards, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-120 Buffer Overflow without bounds checking and CWE-416 Use After Free, depending on the specific memory corruption mechanism triggered during exploitation. These categories highlight the failure to properly validate input data or manage dynamic memory allocation safely. Furthermore, from a tactical perspective within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability supports techniques associated with Initial Access via Drive-by Compromise and Execution through Browser Rendering Engines. The ability to execute code in a sandboxed environment also relates to Defense Evasion tactics where attackers may attempt to bypass security controls by leveraging legitimate system processes or components that are trusted but poorly secured against crafted inputs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates. Users must upgrade Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.47 or later, which contains the necessary patches to correct the memory management logic within the Extensions module. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, automated patch deployment systems should be utilized to ensure rapid remediation across all endpoints. Additionally, security administrators can enforce policies that restrict the installation of third-party extensions from untrusted sources, thereby reducing the attack surface associated with extension-related code paths. While user education regarding suspicious links remains important, technical controls such as keeping browsers updated and disabling unnecessary extensions provide the most effective defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific flaw.