CVE-2026-17875 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Use after free in PDFium in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted PDF file. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the PDFium library component that powers Google Chrome's PDF rendering capabilities. The flaw exists in the way the system handles memory management when processing maliciously crafted PDF files, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed and potentially overwritten by subsequent operations. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to achieve remote code execution within the browser's sandboxed environment, which is designed to isolate potentially harmful code from the underlying operating system. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, a well-documented weakness that has been the source of numerous security incidents across various software platforms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a specific PDF file that triggers the memory management error during document parsing or rendering operations. When Chrome processes such a file, the PDFium component allocates memory for certain objects and subsequently frees them, but fails to properly nullify pointers or validate access patterns. An attacker can manipulate the PDF structure to cause the system to reference this freed memory location, potentially allowing them to control execution flow or inject malicious code into the process space. The medium severity classification by Chromium indicates that while the vulnerability requires specific conditions for exploitation, it presents a significant risk due to its potential to bypass sandbox protections and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it undermines fundamental security assumptions about the isolation provided by Chrome's sandbox architecture. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform privilege escalation attacks, access sensitive user data, or establish persistent footholds within targeted systems. The fact that exploitation occurs during PDF rendering operations makes this particularly concerning for enterprise environments where users frequently encounter PDF documents from untrusted sources. Security researchers have noted that use-after-free vulnerabilities in rendering libraries often provide attackers with multiple attack vectors, including information disclosure and denial of service conditions, making them attractive targets for threat actors seeking to compromise user systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, with the recommended update being to version 151.0.7922.72 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying additional security controls such as PDF sandboxing configurations and network-based content filtering solutions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1548 Abuse of Functionality, as attackers would need to leverage the compromised browser process to execute malicious payloads. System administrators should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce exposure from social engineering attacks that might deliver malicious PDF files, while monitoring network traffic for suspicious PDF-related activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.