CVE-2026-76025 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Use after free in FileSystem in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.79 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the FileSystem component of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.79 represents a critical memory management error that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of user data. This specific class of vulnerabilities occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, often leading to undefined behavior such as arbitrary code execution or system crashes. In this instance, the flaw resides in how Chrome handles file system operations, where an object is deallocated but remains accessible through lingering references within the browser's internal state management structures.
From a technical perspective, the exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious HTML page that triggers the specific sequence of events leading to the premature release of memory associated with FileSystem objects. When the victim visits this crafted webpage, the JavaScript engine or underlying C++ components interact with the file system APIs in a way that causes the target object to be freed while still being referenced by other parts of the application. This creates a dangling pointer situation where subsequent operations on the now-invalidated memory location can manipulate heap metadata or execute arbitrary instructions if the attacker has carefully controlled the contents of the reclaimed memory block through techniques such as heap spraying.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly given that Chrome operates within a sandboxed environment designed to limit the damage caused by compromised web content. However, successful exploitation allows an attacker to escape this sandbox boundary and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. This capability enables the installation of malware, theft of sensitive information such as cookies and session tokens stored in local storage or IndexedDB, and potentially further lateral movement within a user's system if additional vulnerabilities are chained together. The Chromium security severity rating of High reflects the ease of exploitation via standard web technologies and the significant risk posed to end-users who may inadvertently visit malicious sites containing exploit code.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-416, which describes Use After Free conditions that lead to memory corruption and potential remote code execution. Furthermore, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploitation technique maps to Tactic TA0002 Execution and specifically Technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as well as potentially T1218 System Binary Proxy Execution if the attacker leverages browser components to run malicious payloads. The attack vector is classified under Remote Code Execution via Web Content, highlighting the importance of robust memory safety practices in web browsers that process untrusted input from the internet.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 156.0.8078.79 or later, where this specific use-after-free condition has been addressed by developers through improved reference counting mechanisms and stricter validation of object lifecycles within the FileSystem module. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, deploying automated patch management solutions ensures that these critical security updates are applied promptly to reduce the window of exposure. Additionally, users should maintain up-to-date antivirus definitions and employ browser extensions or settings that restrict access to local file systems where possible, adding layers of defense against potential exploitation attempts even if a vulnerability were present in an older version.