CVE-2026-79027 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Use after free in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via crafted network traffic. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the WebRTC component of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a critical memory safety issue that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. Use-after-free errors occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this specific instance, the flaw resides in how WebRTC handles network traffic processing, allowing an attacker who controls or crafts specific network packets to trigger the premature deallocation of memory objects while they are still referenced elsewhere in the application logic. This discrepancy between object lifetime and reference management creates a window for exploitation where the freed memory can be reallocated with attacker-controlled data, effectively corrupting internal state structures.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which classifies use-after-free conditions as a primary category of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The attack vector is remote and requires no user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted webpage or receiving specific network traffic designed to exploit the WebRTC implementation. By manipulating the timing and content of network packets sent to the browser's media handling subsystems, an attacker can force the application into a state where it accesses memory that has already been returned to the system allocator. This allows for arbitrary read operations if the freed memory is not yet overwritten, or more critically, arbitrary write capabilities when the attacker controls the data written into the reused memory block. Such control over memory writes enables the manipulation of function pointers, object vtables, or other critical runtime structures, which serves as a stepping stone to achieving code execution within the browser process context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for sandbox escape and arbitrary code execution. Although Chrome employs multiple layers of defense including ASLR, DEP, and site isolation, successful exploitation of a high-severity use-after-free in WebRTC can bypass these protections by leveraging heap spraying techniques or specific gadget chains to execute shellcode. This aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers deliver malicious payloads through client-side applications like web browsers. The ability to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox allows an attacker to compromise the user's system integrity, potentially leading to data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or further lateral movement within a network environment if the browser is used as an initial access vector for enterprise systems.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate patching and proactive security hygiene measures. Users must upgrade Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which contains the necessary code fixes to properly manage memory lifecycles within the WebRTC module. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, deploying automated update mechanisms ensures that all endpoints are protected against this specific exploit chain before it can be leveraged in targeted attacks. Additionally, enabling Chrome's sandboxing features and keeping operating system-level protections such as ASLR enabled provides additional layers of defense-in-depth that raise the difficulty for attackers attempting to achieve reliable code execution even if a vulnerability were present. Security teams should also monitor network traffic for anomalous patterns indicative of WebRTC exploitation attempts, although modern browsers typically mitigate many known exploit techniques through built-in hardening features like heap randomization and bounds checking where applicable.