CVE-2026-17932 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Use after free in DataTransfer in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a local attacker to obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition in the DataTransfer functionality of Google Chrome on Windows systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.72. The flaw occurs within the browser's handling of data transfer operations that are commonly used in drag-and-drop interactions and clipboard functionality. When a malicious HTML page triggers specific sequences involving DataTransfer objects, it can cause the browser to access memory locations that have already been freed by the application's memory management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of object references during the lifecycle of DataTransfer objects. When Chrome processes certain drag-and-drop operations or clipboard interactions, it maintains internal references to memory structures that may be prematurely deallocated while still being accessed by subsequent operations. This creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the browser's memory management to access freed memory locations, potentially extracting sensitive information from process memory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a low-severity risk but still represents a significant concern for local attackers who can leverage crafted HTML pages to gain unauthorized access to process memory. The attack requires the user to navigate to a malicious webpage, making it a client-side exploit that relies on social engineering or drive-by download techniques. While the severity is classified as low, the potential for information disclosure makes this a concerning vulnerability that could be combined with other exploits to create more sophisticated attacks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes use-after-free conditions in software systems, and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to security issues even in well-established browsers. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through web-based attacks, and potentially T1566 for initial access via malicious websites. The affected Windows environment increases the attack surface since Chrome on Windows typically runs with elevated privileges and has access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 151.0.7922.72 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes for DataTransfer operations. Organizations should also implement web content filtering and user education regarding suspicious website navigation. Browser security configurations can be enhanced through sandboxing features and strict Content Security Policies that limit the execution of potentially malicious scripts. Additionally, monitoring for unusual browser behavior or memory access patterns could help detect exploitation attempts, though such detection would require advanced security tooling and may not provide real-time protection against this specific vulnerability.