CVE-2026-17807 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Use after free in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the V8 JavaScript engine component of Google Chrome, affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The flaw occurs when the V8 engine fails to properly manage memory references after an object has been deallocated, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed and manipulated by malicious code. This specific vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions that arise from improper memory management practices in software applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to craft a specially designed HTML page that triggers the flawed memory management sequence within the V8 engine. When such a page is loaded in the browser, the malicious code can manipulate freed memory regions to redirect execution flow or inject arbitrary code into the sandboxed environment. The attack vector leverages the browser's JavaScript engine to perform memory manipulation operations that bypass normal security boundaries, allowing unauthorized code execution within what should be a protected sandboxed context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model that separates user-space processes from system-level operations within the Chrome browser. This use-after-free condition enables attackers to potentially execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the compromised browser process, which could lead to full system compromise depending on the underlying operating system and user permissions. The medium severity classification by Chromium security team reflects the complexity required to achieve successful exploitation while acknowledging the significant potential damage that can result from successful attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 151.0.7922.72 or later, which includes memory management fixes specifically addressing the use-after-free condition in V8. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as browser hardening techniques, sandboxing configurations, and network-based protections that can detect and block malicious HTML content before it reaches vulnerable systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and highlights how seemingly isolated memory management flaws can have profound implications for browser security architectures. Security teams should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment of security updates across enterprise environments, as this type of vulnerability typically requires immediate remediation due to its exploitation potential within the widely used Chrome browser platform.
This vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the category of privilege escalation and code execution, specifically targeting the browser's JavaScript engine as a means to bypass security controls. The use-after-free condition represents a common attack pattern that has been successfully exploited in numerous high-profile incidents, making it a critical area for ongoing security monitoring and remediation efforts within browser security implementations.