CVE-2026-87514 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
Use after free in Views in Google Chrome prior to 153.0.8010.36 allowed a local attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a local program. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within the View component of Google Chrome prior to version 153.0.8010.36 represents a critical memory management flaw that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. This specific class of error occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this instance, the vulnerability is located in the rendering engine or interface layer where View objects are managed, allowing an attacker who gains local access to the system to trigger the premature deallocation of memory while references to that memory remain active and accessible within the application context.
From a technical perspective, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow for arbitrary read and write operations in memory space controlled by the vulnerable process. When Chrome processes certain user interactions or renders specific content involving these View objects, it may release the underlying data structure but retain pointers to it. If an attacker can control the allocation of new data into that freed memory region before the stale pointer is dereferenced again, they can effectively manipulate what those pointers access. This capability enables the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process, which typically operates within a restricted sandbox environment designed to limit the impact of potential exploits on the underlying operating system and user files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its classification as allowing local privilege escalation or sandbox escape via a local program. While many browser vulnerabilities require remote interaction such as visiting a malicious website, this specific flaw can be triggered by a locally executed application. This significantly lowers the barrier for exploitation because an attacker does not need social engineering tactics like phishing links; instead, they only need to have some level of code execution capability on the victim's machine. Once local access is established, the use-after-free condition in Chrome allows the attacker to break out of the browser sandbox and execute commands with higher privileges or interact directly with system resources that are normally protected from web content.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which defines Use After Free as a situation where software uses memory after it has been freed, often leading to crashes, data corruption, or arbitrary code execution. Furthermore, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit technique relates to techniques involving sandbox escape and privilege escalation, specifically leveraging memory corruption flaws to bypass security boundaries established by the operating system and application design. The Chromium project has classified this issue with a High severity rating, reflecting its potential for significant compromise when combined with local access vectors.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve updating Google Chrome to version 153.0.8010.36 or later, where these memory management issues have been addressed through rigorous code reviews and automated fuzzing tests that detect such lifecycle errors in object handling. For organizations managing multiple endpoints, ensuring automatic update policies are enforced is critical to closing this window of exposure. Additionally, implementing strict application control policies can limit the ability of unauthorized local programs to interact with browser processes or trigger rendering engines, thereby reducing the attack surface even if a vulnerability were present. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to memory corruption exploits and ensure that endpoint detection systems are configured to flag unusual behavior patterns associated with sandbox escape attempts.