CVE-2026-87617 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 153.0.8010.36 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within Google Chrome's DevTools component represents a critical memory management error that can be exploited by attackers through sophisticated web-based delivery mechanisms. This specific flaw occurs when the browser retains access to a block of memory after it has been freed, allowing for potential arbitrary code execution if an attacker can control the data written into that reallocated memory space. In this instance, the vulnerability is located within the Developer Tools interface, which is typically used by web developers and administrators but remains accessible in standard browsing contexts unless explicitly disabled or restricted by enterprise policies. The security severity assigned by Chromium is rated as Low, indicating that while the technical mechanism for exploitation exists, practical barriers such as sandboxing significantly mitigate the immediate risk of full system compromise under normal circumstances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability hinges on the attacker's ability to leverage social engineering tactics to persuade a user into visiting a maliciously crafted HTML page. Once loaded, the page triggers the specific sequence that leads to the use-after-free condition within the DevTools code path. Because Chrome employs a multi-process architecture with strict sandboxing for renderer processes, an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in this context does not immediately grant the attacker full control over the victim's operating system. Instead, it allows for potential escape from the browser's security boundaries if additional vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are present. The primary risk involves data exfiltration, session hijacking, or further lateral movement within a network environment where the compromised machine serves as an entry point.
From a technical classification perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-416, which describes Use After Free errors resulting from improper memory management practices such as dangling pointers. The exploitation vector falls under ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically when the attacker utilizes JavaScript or other scripting languages embedded in the HTML payload to execute commands within the browser's context. Furthermore, the reliance on social engineering places this attack firmly within the initial access phase of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly techniques involving spearphishing links or drive-by downloads that exploit user trust rather than purely technical weaknesses in authentication protocols.
Mitigation strategies for organizations and individual users primarily involve maintaining up-to-date versions of Google Chrome to ensure the patch included in version 153.0.8010.36 is applied promptly. For enterprise environments, implementing strict Content Security Policies can help restrict the execution of untrusted scripts and reduce the attack surface available to such exploits. Additionally, disabling DevTools for standard user profiles or restricting access via group policy settings can prevent attackers from leveraging this specific code path if they manage to trigger the underlying memory corruption. Regular security awareness training is also essential to mitigate the social engineering aspect, ensuring that users are cautious when interacting with unfamiliar web content or unexpected links that may attempt to exploit browser vulnerabilities.