CVE-2026-19176 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2026
Use after free in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.109 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox 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 flaw in Skia, Google Chrome's graphics rendering engine, which existed in versions prior to 151.0.7922.109. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are accessed after their allocation has been released, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects the renderer process within Chrome's architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it allows an attacker who has already compromised this isolated component to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code within the sandboxed environment. Skia's role as the core graphics library means that any memory corruption in its handling of graphical elements can have severe implications for browser security, especially when combined with Chrome's multi-process architecture where renderer processes are designed to be isolated from the main browser process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that triggers specific rendering operations within Skia. When such a page is processed by the renderer, it causes memory management functions to free certain objects while simultaneously creating conditions where references to those freed objects remain accessible. This creates a window where an attacker can manipulate memory contents or redirect execution flow, leveraging the use-after-free condition to gain control over the renderer process. The Chromium security severity classification as High reflects the significant risk this vulnerability poses, particularly because it enables code execution within a sandboxed environment that typically provides strong isolation between different browser components and user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it fundamentally undermines Chrome's security model by allowing privilege escalation within the renderer process. Once an attacker gains control of the renderer, they can potentially access sensitive user data, perform actions on behalf of the user, or even establish persistent access to the system. The sandboxed environment that normally protects users from such attacks becomes ineffective when an attacker can exploit memory management flaws to escape these protections. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed, as it could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value targets.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on immediate patching and updating to versions containing the fix, which addresses the underlying memory management issue in Skia's rendering code. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect exploitation attempts and ensure that all Chrome installations are updated promptly. The fix typically involves proper null pointer checks and memory deallocation procedures within the graphics rendering pipeline to prevent access to freed memory blocks. Additionally, browser hardening techniques such as address space layout randomization and control flow integrity can provide additional protection layers against similar vulnerabilities in the future, though these measures are secondary to the core fix. This vulnerability exemplifies why continuous security auditing of graphics libraries and rendering engines is crucial, as these components often handle complex memory operations that can introduce subtle but severe security flaws.
This use-after-free vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses the reuse of freed memory conditions in software implementations. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a privilege escalation technique through code injection within sandboxed environments, potentially falling under techniques related to process injection and sandbox evasion. The fact that this affects Chrome's renderer process demonstrates how graphics rendering libraries often become attack surfaces due to their complex memory management requirements and the frequent use of low-level operations that can introduce memory safety issues. Organizations should maintain regular security assessments of browser components and ensure robust patch management processes are in place to address such vulnerabilities promptly, as they represent significant risks to user security and privacy.