CVE-2026-17657 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Use after free in Navigation in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the navigation component of google chrome versions prior to 1510792272. The flaw occurs within the browser's rendering engine where memory management fails to properly track object lifetimes during navigation operations, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the renderer process which handles web page content and is part of chromiums security architecture that isolates untrusted web content from the operating system through sandboxing mechanisms. When a crafted html page triggers this use-after-free condition, it allows an attacker who has already compromised the renderer process to potentially escape the sandbox environment and gain elevated privileges on the host system. This represents a severe escalation risk as the attacker would have already bypassed initial security boundaries through other means such as exploitation of separate vulnerabilities or social engineering attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration cwecwe 416 which describes use after free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed by the application. In chromium based browsers, navigation operations involve complex object management including page objects, frame structures, and resource handling that can create race conditions or improper memory lifecycle management under specific circumstances. The vulnerability manifests when javascript or web components trigger navigation events while other parts of the rendering pipeline still reference previously freed memory locations. This creates a scenario where an attacker can control the contents of freed memory through carefully crafted html content, potentially allowing code execution in contexts where such control would normally be restricted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser exploitation as it undermines one of the fundamental security models that chromium implements to protect users from malicious web content. The sandbox escape capability means that even if an attacker cannot directly execute arbitrary code on the target system, they can leverage the compromised renderer to gain access to system resources and potentially elevate privileges to the level of the operating system user account. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users have administrative rights or when combined with other vulnerabilities that allow initial compromise through social engineering or drive-by downloads. The high security severity rating reflects the potential for complete system compromise from a single vulnerable browser instance, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors who seek long-term access to victim systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected chrome installations to version 1510792272 or later where the use-after-free condition has been addressed through proper memory management controls and additional bounds checking. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider using automated patch management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security fixes. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies that limit script execution and sandbox restrictions within web browsers, though these measures provide only partial protection given that the vulnerability occurs in the core navigation component. Network level protections such as web application firewalls and proxy configurations can help reduce exposure by filtering malicious content before it reaches browser components, but cannot prevent exploitation once an attacker has compromised a renderer process. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to browser exploitation attempts and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous behavior patterns associated with sandbox escape techniques as defined in the attack technique t1059 and t1072 within the attack framework.