CVE-2026-15133 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2026
Use after free in InterestGroups in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.115 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the InterestGroups functionality within Google Chrome browser, specifically affecting versions prior to 150.0.7871.115. The flaw manifests within the browser's sandboxing mechanisms where memory management errors allow an attacker to manipulate freed memory locations, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior including code execution. The Chromium security severity rating of High indicates the significant risk posed by this flaw, as it enables remote code execution within the browser's sandboxed environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to construct a malicious HTML page that triggers the specific code path involving InterestGroups functionality. When the browser processes such crafted content, the use-after-free condition occurs during memory deallocation and subsequent access patterns. This particular flaw resides in the browser's handling of interest groups for advertising and tracking purposes, which are used by websites to share user data with third-party advertisers. The vulnerability impacts Chrome's security model where sandboxing is designed to isolate potentially malicious code execution from the underlying operating system, but this memory management flaw allows bypassing such protections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution as it represents a complete compromise of the browser's security boundaries. Attackers can leverage this condition to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the sandboxed browser process, potentially leading to full system compromise through subsequent attacks. This aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to exploitation for code execution and privilege escalation within sandboxed environments. The vulnerability particularly affects users who visit malicious websites or are targeted through phishing campaigns that deliver the crafted HTML payloads, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams managing browser-based attack surfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Chrome updates to version 150.0.7871.115 or later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes and code modifications to prevent the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Additional defensive measures include network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block known malicious patterns, though these provide only partial protection given the nature of the vulnerability. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through endpoint detection and response systems, as the use-after-free condition typically manifests through specific memory access patterns that can be detected by behavioral analysis tools. The fix implemented in the patched version addresses the core memory management issue by ensuring proper reference counting and memory deallocation sequences within the InterestGroups processing code, eliminating the window where freed memory could be accessed maliciously.