CVE-2026-79266 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.65 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted Chrome extension. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's DevTools component represents a significant memory safety issue that was addressed in version 152.0.7977.65 of the Chromium-based browser. This specific class of vulnerabilities arises when software continues to reference a memory block after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this particular instance, the flaw resided within the developer tools subsystem, which is typically used for debugging and inspecting web pages but also possesses elevated privileges relative to standard browsing contexts due to its need to interact deeply with browser internals. The presence of such a vulnerability in DevTools highlights the risk associated with powerful internal interfaces that may be inadvertently exposed or manipulated through malicious extensions.
The operational impact of this flaw allows a remote attacker, who must first leverage social engineering techniques to convince a user to install a crafted Chrome extension, to execute arbitrary code within the browser's sandboxed environment. While modern browsers employ robust sandboxing mechanisms designed to isolate web content from the host operating system, achieving execution inside the sandbox is often sufficient for an attacker to escalate privileges or pivot to further attacks depending on subsequent vulnerabilities and configuration settings. The requirement for social engineering indicates that this vulnerability cannot be exploited purely through passive browsing; it necessitates user interaction in the form of installing a malicious extension. This extension would then trigger the use-after-free condition within DevTools, allowing the injection of arbitrary commands into the browser process context.
From a technical classification perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-416, which describes Use After Free vulnerabilities where memory is accessed after it has been released back to the system. The exploitation path involves manipulating object lifecycles and pointer management within the DevTools codebase. Furthermore, in terms of offensive security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this vulnerability facilitates techniques related to Initial Access via Trusted Software or Browser Extensions, followed by Execution through command injection or script execution within the browser process. The medium severity rating assigned by Chromium reflects the balance between the complexity of exploitation and the potential impact on system integrity.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve ensuring that all browsers are updated to version 152.0.7977.65 or later, where this memory management error has been corrected through improved pointer validation and lifecycle tracking within DevTools. Additionally, users should exercise caution when installing browser extensions, verifying the source and reputation of any add-on before installation. Security administrators can also enforce policies that restrict extension installations to approved sources only, thereby reducing the attack surface for social engineering efforts aimed at deploying malicious tools. Regular patching cycles remain the most effective defense against such memory corruption vulnerabilities in complex software ecosystems like web browsers.