CVE-2026-4458 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2026
Use after free in Extensions in Google Chrome prior to 146.0.7680.153 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted Chrome Extension. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition affecting the extensions subsystem in Google Chrome versions prior to 146.0.7680.153. The flaw occurs within the extension management framework where improper memory handling allows for heap corruption when processing maliciously crafted extensions. The vulnerability is classified as high severity by Chromium security standards, indicating significant potential for exploitation and system compromise. The issue stems from inadequate memory management practices during extension installation and execution phases, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate heap memory structures through carefully constructed malicious extensions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic use-after-free scenario where memory allocated for extension components is freed but not properly invalidated, allowing subsequent operations to access the freed memory location. This memory corruption can occur during extension loading processes when the browser fails to properly validate extension manifests or extension code integrity. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious extensions that trigger the specific memory management path, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the browser sandbox. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the extension framework where extensions have elevated privileges and can access sensitive browser functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise through browser-based attacks. When exploited successfully, the heap corruption can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to data theft, persistent backdoors, or further exploitation of the underlying operating system. The attack vector requires user interaction through extension installation, making social engineering a critical component of exploitation strategies. This vulnerability affects all users who install extensions from untrusted sources, including both regular users and enterprise environments where extension management policies may be insufficiently enforced.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through Chrome version updates to 146.0.7680.153 or later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement strict extension installation policies, limiting extension sources to verified repositories and conducting thorough security reviews of all extensions before deployment. Browser hardening measures including sandboxing enforcement and extension permission controls should be strengthened to minimize potential impact. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious extension behavior and implementing automated scanning tools for extension integrity verification can provide additional defense layers. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where browser-based exploitation chains leverage memory corruption flaws to achieve system compromise, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams and incident response procedures.