CVE-2026-79052 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Use after free in Aura in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Critical)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the Aura component of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.65 represents a critical memory management error that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of user data by allowing remote code execution outside the browser's sandbox environment. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a pointer after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by an attacker to manipulate heap structures or execute arbitrary instructions. In this specific instance, the Aura framework, which is responsible for handling window management and input events in Chromium-based browsers, failed to properly invalidate references to memory objects before they were deallocated. This lapse creates a window of opportunity where maliciously crafted content can trigger the use of stale pointers, effectively bypassing the sandbox protections that are designed to isolate web content from the underlying operating system.
From a technical perspective, this flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which defines use-after-free errors as conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed. The operational impact of such a vulnerability is severe because it allows an attacker who hosts or controls a malicious web page to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser. Since Chrome employs a multi-process architecture with strict sandboxing, most vulnerabilities are contained within isolated processes that lack access to sensitive system resources. However, when a use-after-free condition occurs in a component like Aura that may interact more directly with window management or input handling subsystems, it can potentially lead to privilege escalation or full remote code execution if the attacker successfully exploits the memory corruption to hijack control flow. This capability enables attackers to install malware, steal sensitive information such as cookies and passwords, or use the compromised machine for further attacks in a networked environment.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires social engineering tactics, where an attacker entices a user to visit a specially crafted HTML page containing malicious JavaScript code designed to trigger the memory corruption sequence. Once triggered, the exploit attempts to reallocate the freed memory with controlled data structures that mimic valid objects but contain pointers leading to shellcode or other malicious payloads. The success of such an attack depends on precise timing and heap grooming techniques to ensure that the attacker's payload occupies the same memory location as the previously freed object. This type of exploitation is consistent with tactics observed in advanced persistent threat campaigns, where browser vulnerabilities are leveraged for initial access before moving laterally within a target network.
To mitigate this risk, users must immediately update Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, which includes patches that enforce proper memory management practices and prevent the use of freed pointers in the Aura component. Security administrators should ensure that automatic updates are enabled for all endpoints within their organization to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting and restricting script execution on untrusted sites can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Monitoring network traffic for suspicious outbound connections from browser processes may also help detect successful exploits in real-time. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous memory safety checks in complex frameworks like Aura and highlights the continuous need for patch management to address critical vulnerabilities that threaten the foundational security model of modern web browsers.