CVE-2026-76040 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome on on Mac prior to 151.0.7922.169 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical use-after-free flaw within the browser engine of Google Chrome on macOS, specifically affecting versions prior to 151.0.7922.169. This type of memory corruption error arises when a program continues to use a pointer after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by an attacker. In this specific instance, the flaw resides within the core browser components responsible for rendering web content, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory states during page processing. The severity is classified as high due to the potential for arbitrary code execution outside the security sandbox, which represents a significant escalation of privilege from standard web context restrictions.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to heap corruption and control flow hijacking. When an object in memory is deallocated but references to it remain active within the application's data structures, subsequent operations on those dangling pointers may access freed memory regions. An attacker leveraging social engineering techniques could craft a malicious HTML page designed to trigger this specific race condition or state inconsistency during garbage collection or DOM manipulation processes. By carefully controlling the allocation and freeing of objects in the heap, an adversary can overwrite adjacent memory with controlled data structures, effectively gaining arbitrary read-write primitives that bypass Chrome's multi-process architecture and sandboxing mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a crafted webpage or clicking on a malicious link. Once the exploit chain successfully triggers the use-after-free condition, the attacker can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the current user process. This compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the system, potentially allowing for data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or further lateral movement within a network environment if the compromised machine is part of an enterprise infrastructure. The reliance on social engineering indicates that while technical controls are bypassed, human factors remain a critical vector for initial access in real-world attack scenarios.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which defines use after free as a situation where software uses memory after it has been freed, often leading to crashes or arbitrary code execution. Furthermore, the exploitation technique maps to MITRE ATT&CK tactics related to initial access and privilege escalation, specifically leveraging browser vulnerabilities for drive-by downloads or exploit kits that automate the delivery of malicious payloads. The breach of sandbox boundaries is a critical failure in defense-in-depth strategies, highlighting the importance of robust memory safety practices within modern web browsers.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must ensure that all instances of Google Chrome on macOS are updated to version 151.0.7922.169 or later immediately upon availability. Patch management processes should be prioritized for browser components due to their high exposure to external threats. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting and restricting the execution of unsigned scripts can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Security awareness training is also recommended to reduce the success rate of social engineering campaigns that attempt to lure users into visiting malicious websites containing such crafted HTML pages. Regular vulnerability scanning and monitoring for indicators of compromise related to browser-based exploits will further enhance organizational resilience against this class of threats.