CVE-2026-17688 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Use after free in Input 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 input handling mechanisms of Google Chrome browsers prior to version 151.0.7922.72. The flaw occurs within the renderer process where improper memory management allows an attacker who has already compromised this isolated process to exploit a dangling pointer reference. When a web page triggers specific input processing operations, the system frees memory associated with input objects while still maintaining references to those locations, creating opportunities for malicious code to manipulate freed memory contents. This particular vulnerability maps to CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical browser exploitation scenarios as it directly enables sandbox escape capabilities that bypass Chrome's security model. The renderer process isolation is designed to prevent malicious code from accessing system resources or other processes, but this use-after-free flaw undermines those protective boundaries. Attackers who successfully compromise the renderer through initial exploitation vectors can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code outside the restricted environment, potentially gaining access to sensitive user data, system files, or even full system control. The Chromium security severity rating of High reflects the dangerous nature of this flaw as it represents a direct bypass of browser sandbox protections.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability follows common attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as privilege escalation and defense evasion. The attacker typically begins with a successful initial compromise of the renderer process through phishing, drive-by downloads, or other web-based attacks that execute malicious JavaScript. Once inside the renderer environment, the attacker can craft specific HTML pages containing malformed input elements that trigger the memory corruption condition. The attack chain involves manipulating input handling code paths to cause premature memory deallocation while maintaining active references that can be exploited to redirect execution flow.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome browsers to versions 151.0.7922.72 or later where the use-after-free condition has been resolved through proper memory management implementation. Organizations should also implement network-based security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block suspicious HTML content containing known exploitation patterns. Browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary input processing features, implementing strict Content Security Policies, and employing additional sandboxing layers provide supplementary protection against similar attacks. Regular security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous browser behavior and memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and demonstrates how seemingly minor memory management flaws can result in severe security consequences when they occur within privileged execution contexts.