CVE-2026-17862 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Use after free in Tracing in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a local attacker to perform OS-level privilege escalation via a malicious file. (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 tracing functionality of Google Chrome on Windows systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The flaw occurs when the browser's tracing component fails to properly manage memory references after objects have been freed, creating a scenario where malicious code can exploit this dangling pointer to execute arbitrary operations. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity by Chromium security standards but carries significant operational implications due to its potential for privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the tracing subsystem's improper handling of memory management during concurrent operations. When Chrome's tracing mechanism processes certain file operations, it creates objects that are subsequently freed from memory while maintaining references to them in other parts of the system. A local attacker can manipulate file content or execution flows to cause these freed objects to be reallocated and accessed by malicious code, effectively enabling code execution with elevated privileges.
The operational impact extends beyond typical browser-based exploits due to the privilege escalation potential on Windows systems. This vulnerability allows attackers who already have user-level access to potentially elevate their privileges to system level, providing complete control over affected machines. The attack vector requires local system access but does not need network connectivity or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local file manipulation is possible.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities, and T1547.001, covering registry run keys for persistence. The Windows operating system's privilege model makes this particularly dangerous as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to establish persistent access or escalate further through additional attack chains.
Mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of Chrome version 151.0.7922.72 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes for the tracing component. Organizations should also implement privilege separation controls and regularly audit file permissions on systems where Chrome is installed. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual file access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing browser hardening measures such as sandboxing enforcement and disabling unnecessary tracing features in production environments to reduce attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.