CVE-2026-19144 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2026
Use after free in HTML in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.109 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's HTML processing subsystem that could enable remote code execution through maliciously crafted web pages. The flaw occurs when the browser's rendering engine attempts to access memory that has already been freed during HTML document processing, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled data can be manipulated to corrupt heap memory structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free errors in memory management. The Chromium security severity rating of High indicates the potential for significant impact given that exploitation requires only a malicious webpage and does not demand user interaction beyond visiting the site.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves Chrome's HTML parser and rendering engine components that handle memory allocation and deallocation during page processing. When processing certain HTML constructs, the browser allocates memory for DOM objects and other rendering elements, but fails to properly track reference counts or object lifecycles, leading to situations where freed memory blocks are accessed after being reallocated for other purposes. This heap corruption scenario creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents in ways that could lead to arbitrary code execution within the browser sandbox.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and potentially compromise user systems. Attackers can craft HTML pages containing malicious JavaScript or HTML elements that trigger the specific memory management flaw during page rendering, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. This represents a classic remote code execution vector that could be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to Chrome 151.0.7922.109 and demonstrates the ongoing challenges in maintaining memory safety within complex browser engines.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate application of the security patch released by Google that addresses the specific use-after-free condition in the HTML processing components. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems are running patched versions, as well as deploy web filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains. The remediation process should also include monitoring for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify suspicious memory access patterns or heap corruption indicators. Security teams should consider implementing additional browser hardening measures such as address space layout randomization, stack canaries, and control flow integrity protections to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and continuous monitoring in defending against sophisticated memory corruption attacks that target core browser components.