CVE-2026-19557 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Use after free in TabStrip in Google Chrome on Mac prior to 151.0.7922.137 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the TabStrip component of Google Chrome on macOS systems, affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.137. The flaw occurs within the browser's user interface rendering logic where memory allocated to tab strip elements is improperly freed while still being referenced by active code paths. Such use-after-free conditions are particularly dangerous because they create opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The vulnerability specifically manifests in the renderer process context, which means an attacker who has already compromised this lower-privileged process can leverage the flaw to escape the sandbox protection mechanisms that normally isolate browser components. This represents a significant escalation of privilege attack vector where the initial compromise is used as a foothold to break out of the restricted environment. The Chromium security severity classification of High reflects the potential for remote code execution with full system access capabilities.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the tab strip UI component where objects are freed from memory but references to those objects persist in various callback mechanisms or event handlers. When these stale references are subsequently accessed, they point to invalid memory locations that may have been reallocated for other purposes, creating opportunities for controlled memory corruption. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it compromises the fundamental security architecture of modern browsers. Browser sandboxes are designed to contain malicious code execution and prevent attacks from spreading to the underlying operating system. When such protections are bypassed through use-after-free exploits, attackers gain the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised browser process, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 151.0.7922.137 or later, which includes memory management fixes and improved validation of object lifecycles within the TabStrip component. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to reduce the attack surface for potentially malicious HTML content. Additionally, browser hardening techniques including enhanced sandbox configurations and process isolation measures can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves executing code through web browsers and represents a classic example of how UI component vulnerabilities can be exploited to bypass operating system security controls. The attack chain typically begins with a phishing campaign delivering malicious HTML content, followed by exploitation of the renderer process, and concludes with sandbox escape and system compromise. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to browser process anomalies and unusual network connections that may indicate successful exploitation attempts.
The remediation process requires comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure no regressions in browser functionality while verifying that the memory management fixes properly address the underlying use-after-free condition. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be implemented as part of ongoing browser security management to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the browser architecture.