CVE-2026-113308 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Use after free in Core 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 flaw within the core components of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a critical memory management error that can be leveraged by remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution. This type of defect occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that security researchers and exploit developers frequently target for privilege escalation or sandbox escape. In this specific instance, the flaw resides in the browser engine's core processing logic, which handles various web content rendering tasks. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing specially designed scripts or embedded objects, they can trigger conditions where memory is deallocated prematurely while references to that memory remain active within the application state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it allows for remote code execution without user interaction beyond visiting the compromised webpage. By exploiting the use-after-free condition, an attacker can manipulate heap metadata or overwrite adjacent objects in memory with controlled data structures. This manipulation enables the injection and subsequent execution of arbitrary shellcode within the context of the browser process. Although Chrome employs a multi-process architecture designed to isolate web content from system resources through sandboxing techniques such as Windows Job Objects on desktop platforms, sophisticated exploitation chains can bypass these protections. The attacker may leverage additional vulnerabilities or specific memory layout conditions to escape the restricted environment and gain higher-level access to the underlying operating system, potentially leading to full device compromise if no further security controls are in place.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which defines use after free as an error where software uses memory after it has been freed. This category of bugs is particularly dangerous because they often result in heap corruption and can be exploited to achieve code execution through techniques like function pointer overwrites or virtual table hijacking. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates initial access via a crafted web page (T1189) and potentially privilege escalation if the sandbox is breached. The medium severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects the complexity required to reliably exploit the flaw in modern browsers that include mitigations such as heap randomization and guard pages, yet acknowledges the significant risk posed when successful exploitation occurs.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.47 or later, where these memory management issues have been addressed through code patches that ensure proper lifecycle management of allocated objects. Organizations should enforce automated update policies for all endpoints running the browser to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, deploying endpoint detection and response solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous process creation following web browsing activities can help detect exploitation attempts in real time. Users are also advised to exercise caution when visiting untrusted websites or opening email attachments that may redirect to malicious pages, as social engineering remains a common vector for delivering such crafted content. Regular security awareness training regarding phishing and suspicious links complements technical controls by reducing the likelihood of users interacting with exploit delivery mechanisms.