CVE-2026-79128 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Use after free in Views in Google Chrome on on Mac 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: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical memory safety flaw within the Google Chrome browser, specifically affecting versions prior to 152.0.7977.65 on macOS systems. This issue is classified as an out-of-bounds use or use-after-free error occurring in the Views component of the Chromium engine. The core technical mechanism involves a scenario where memory allocated for a specific object is freed, but subsequent operations continue to reference and utilize that same memory location without proper reallocation or nullification checks. In complex web rendering engines like Chrome's Blink layout system, such errors often arise when asynchronous events trigger state changes that invalidate existing pointers while background threads or pending callbacks still attempt to access the now-deallocated resources. This creates a window of opportunity where the browser operates on stale data, potentially leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors.
From an offensive security perspective, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary code execution outside the sandbox environment. Modern browsers rely heavily on process isolation and sandboxes to limit the damage caused by compromised web pages. By exploiting a use-after-free condition in a privileged component like Views, which handles UI rendering and interaction, an attacker can manipulate memory structures such as function pointers or virtual table entries. This manipulation enables the injection of shellcode that executes with higher privileges than those granted to standard web content, effectively breaking out of the restrictive sandbox boundaries. The ability to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox represents a severe escalation of privilege within the context of browser security models, granting full control over the user's system processes and potentially allowing for persistent malware installation or data exfiltration without detection by standard endpoint protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it can be triggered remotely via a crafted HTML page hosted on a malicious website. Users visiting such sites are at immediate risk of compromise simply through normal browsing activities, requiring no additional user interaction beyond loading the page if exploit conditions are met. This remote code execution capability undermines the fundamental trust model of web browsers and poses substantial risks to data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can leverage this flaw for various malicious purposes including credential theft, keylogging, or establishing a foothold within corporate networks that rely on Chrome as their primary browser. The medium severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects the complexity required to reliably exploit the vulnerability in practice, but does not diminish its potential impact given the high privilege level achieved upon successful exploitation.
To mitigate this risk, organizations and individual users must ensure that Google Chrome is updated to version 152.0.7977.65 or later immediately. This update contains patches for the memory management logic within the Views component, ensuring proper lifecycle handling of objects and preventing access to freed memory regions. Beyond immediate patching, implementing strict content security policies can help reduce the attack surface by restricting inline scripts and untrusted sources that might attempt to trigger such vulnerabilities. Additionally, deploying browser isolation technologies or using enterprise-grade endpoint detection and response solutions can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular monitoring for unusual process behavior originating from Chrome processes is also recommended as a supplementary measure to detect potential sandbox escapes in real-time.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which describes use after free conditions that lead to unpredictable program behavior and security vulnerabilities. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit technique falls under Tactic Execution (TA0002) specifically within the subcategory of Command and Scripting Interpreter or potentially System Binary Proxy Execution if the exploited code leads to launching legitimate system tools for malicious purposes. The exploitation path typically involves Initial Access via a crafted web page followed by Defense Evasion techniques aimed at bypassing sandbox restrictions, ultimately leading to Privilege Escalation as the attacker gains control over unsandboxed processes. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize remediation efforts and enhance monitoring rules to detect similar patterns in future incidents involving memory corruption vulnerabilities in widely used software components.