CVE-2026-87504 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
Use after free in Core in Google Chrome prior to 153.0.8010.36 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted Chrome extension. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the core components of Google Chrome prior to version 153.0.8010.36 represents a critical memory management error that undermines the browser's integrity and isolation mechanisms. This specific defect occurs when the application continues to reference a memory block after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. The severity of this issue is classified as medium within the Chromium security framework, yet its potential impact on system security remains significant due to the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities which often serve as precursors to more severe exploits such as arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation.
The operational mechanism of this vulnerability relies heavily on social engineering tactics to facilitate initial access. An attacker crafts a malicious Chrome extension designed to trigger the use-after-free condition when loaded by an unsuspecting user. The exploitation process typically involves tricking the victim into installing and enabling the compromised extension, which then interacts with the browser's core rendering or processing engines in a way that causes premature deallocation of memory resources while active references remain. This discrepancy allows the attacker to manipulate heap structures, potentially gaining control over program flow through techniques such as function pointer overwrite or vtable hijacking.
The most critical aspect of this vulnerability is its ability to facilitate code execution outside the browser's sandbox environment. Modern browsers employ strict sandboxes to limit the damage caused by successful exploits, restricting access to sensitive system resources and user data. However, a well-crafted use-after-free exploit can bypass these protections by achieving arbitrary read-write primitives that allow for the construction of an out-of-bounds write or controlled heap spray. This enables the attacker to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges than those granted to the browser process, effectively breaking the isolation boundary and compromising the host system's security posture.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-416, which describes use after free errors resulting from improper memory management practices. In terms of offensive cybersecurity frameworks, such an exploit path is consistent with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to client-side exploitation and browser-based attacks, specifically those involving the abuse of legitimate software features for malicious purposes. The reliance on a crafted extension highlights the risks associated with third-party code execution within trusted environments, emphasizing the need for rigorous validation and sandboxing policies even for extensions that appear benign or are sourced from official repositories if their integrity is compromised.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 153.0.8010.36 or later, where these memory management issues have been addressed through code patches that ensure proper lifecycle management of allocated resources. Administrators and users should enforce strict policies regarding the installation of browser extensions, utilizing whitelisting mechanisms to prevent unauthorized additions. Additionally, enabling automatic updates ensures that security patches are applied promptly as they become available. Security awareness training is also recommended to help users recognize social engineering attempts aimed at persuading them to install malicious software or disable security features within their browsers.