CVE-2026-85042 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/03/2026
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.82 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the DevTools component of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.82 represents a critical memory management error that undermines the browser's core security architecture. This specific class of vulnerabilities occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this context, the DevTools interface, which is primarily intended for developers and typically disabled in standard user sessions or restricted in its capabilities within sandboxed environments, contained logic errors allowing an attacker to manipulate memory states improperly. The severity of this issue was classified as High by Chromium security teams due to its potential impact on system integrity and confidentiality.
The technical mechanism behind this exploitation involves the allocation and subsequent deallocation of memory resources associated with DevTools objects or data structures. When a crafted HTML page is loaded, it triggers specific JavaScript operations that interact with these internal components. The flaw arises when the application attempts to access or reference a memory location after it has already been released back to the system allocator. This dangling pointer allows an attacker to write arbitrary data into freed memory regions, potentially overwriting adjacent objects or control structures such as function pointers or virtual table entries. By carefully crafting the payload within the HTML page, including specific JavaScript code and CSS elements designed to trigger race conditions or state inconsistencies in the DevTools engine, an attacker can achieve precise memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it facilitates arbitrary code execution outside the browser's sandbox. Modern browsers rely heavily on sandboxing techniques like site isolation and process separation to limit the damage caused by a successful exploit. However, if use-after-free conditions are successfully exploited within components that may have elevated privileges or insufficiently isolated memory spaces, an attacker can bypass these protective boundaries. This allows for remote code execution with the permissions of the browser process, which often extends to accessing local files, installing malware, or pivoting to other systems on the network. The ability to execute code outside the sandbox effectively neutralizes one of the most important defense-in-depth layers provided by modern web browsers.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-416, which describes Use After Free conditions where a pointer is used after it has been freed. From an offensive security perspective, such exploits are frequently mapped to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and execution, specifically leveraging browser vulnerabilities for drive-by downloads or script injection attacks. The exploitation chain typically involves social engineering elements combined with the technical flaw in the HTML parsing engine to trigger the memory corruption during normal browsing activities.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.82 or later, where these memory management issues have been addressed through rigorous code reviews and automated fuzzing tests that detect dangling pointer scenarios before deployment. Organizations should ensure automatic update mechanisms are enabled for all endpoints running the affected browser versions. Additionally, security teams can employ application whitelisting to restrict the execution of untrusted scripts in environments where DevTools functionality is not required by end-users. Network-level controls such as web filtering proxies can also help block access to known malicious domains hosting exploit kits that target this specific vulnerability vector. Regular patch management and monitoring for indicators of compromise related to browser-based exploits remain essential components of a robust defense posture against memory corruption attacks.