CVE-2026-79026 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Use after free in Extensions in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted Chrome extension. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within Google Chrome extensions prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a critical memory management flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This specific class of error occurs when an extension attempts to access or manipulate a pointer after the memory it references has already been freed and potentially reallocated for other purposes. In the context of Chromium-based browsers, extensions operate within a restricted environment designed to limit their impact on the host system. However, this flaw allows an attacker who can trick a user into installing or interacting with a maliciously crafted extension to bypass these restrictions. The severity is classified as high because it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the user's computing environment by enabling arbitrary code execution outside the intended security boundaries.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in complex software like web browsers due to their potential for exploitation through heap spraying or other memory corruption techniques. When an extension holds a reference to a freed object, it may read stale data that could reveal sensitive information such as cryptographic keys or session tokens. More critically, if the attacker can control the content of the newly allocated memory at that address, they can overwrite function pointers or vtable entries within the object structure. This manipulation allows for precise control over program execution flow, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process. Although extensions are typically sandboxed, successful exploitation in this context suggests a breach of those isolation boundaries, potentially granting the attacker access to local files, cookies, and other sensitive user data that would otherwise be protected by the browser's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for end-users who rely on Chrome extensions for productivity or personal use. An adversary leveraging social engineering tactics can distribute a malicious extension through official channels or third-party repositories, relying on users to grant necessary permissions during installation. Once installed and activated, the exploit does not require further user interaction beyond initial setup, allowing it to operate stealthily in the background. This capability transforms what might seem like a routine software update into a critical security event, as unpatched systems remain vulnerable to remote code execution attacks that can lead to full system compromise depending on the context and additional exploits chained with this flaw.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching of Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which addresses the underlying memory management errors within the extension host component. Organizations should enforce strict policies regarding the installation of third-party extensions, utilizing whitelisting mechanisms where possible to ensure only vetted software is permitted on corporate devices. Additionally, users are advised to review installed extensions regularly and remove any that are no longer needed or appear suspicious. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise associated with known exploit kits targeting this vulnerability class and consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions capable of identifying anomalous memory access patterns indicative of heap exploitation attempts.
This incident aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifier CWE-416, which describes use-after-free conditions as a distinct category of software defects leading to undefined behavior and potential security breaches. Furthermore, the attack vector relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if the executed code involves scripting languages commonly used in web environments, or potentially T1204 User Execution if social engineering is employed to trigger the initial installation of the malicious extension. Understanding these mappings helps security professionals categorize the risk accurately within broader threat intelligence frameworks and prioritize remediation efforts based on established industry standards for vulnerability management.