CVE-2026-95373 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 154.0.8037.57 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free condition within Google Chrome's DevTools component represents a critical memory corruption flaw that undermines the browser's core security model. This specific defect occurs when the application continues to reference a memory block after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior during execution. In this instance, the flaw is situated in the developer tools subsystem, which handles debugging and inspection functionalities for web pages. While DevTools are typically intended for developers, they can be accessed through various mechanisms including remote debugging protocols or specific browser configurations that allow external interaction with the page context. The severity of this issue is classified as high by Chromium security standards because it directly impacts the integrity of the sandboxed environment where untrusted code executes.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves a race condition or improper state management within the DevTools interface logic. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page, they can trigger specific interactions that cause the browser to release memory associated with certain DevTool objects while references to those objects are still held in active data structures. Subsequent operations on these dangling pointers result in arbitrary read and write capabilities within the process memory space of the renderer or potentially higher privilege contexts depending on how the garbage collector handles the freed memory. This exploitation path allows an attacker to manipulate internal browser structures, overwrite function pointers, or hijack control flow execution paths. The attack vector relies heavily on social engineering techniques such as phishing emails or malicious websites that lure users into visiting a crafted page designed to trigger this specific sequence of events within their Chrome instance.
The operational impact of successfully exploiting this use-after-free vulnerability is the potential for arbitrary code execution inside the browser sandbox. Although modern browsers employ multiple layers of defense including DEP, ASLR, and site isolation, bypassing these protections via memory corruption remains a primary goal for attackers seeking to establish persistence or escalate privileges on an affected system. Once arbitrary code executes within the renderer process, it may attempt to escape the sandbox using additional vulnerabilities in browser APIs or operating system components. This could lead to full compromise of the user's machine, including theft of sensitive data such as cookies, passwords, and session tokens stored by the browser. The reliance on social engineering means that this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires active user interaction, making targeted attacks against high-value individuals more feasible than automated mass exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates to ensure all users are running Google Chrome version 154.0.8037.57 or later where the memory management logic in DevTools has been corrected. Organizations should enforce automatic update policies across all endpoints to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, security awareness training is crucial to help employees recognize and avoid social engineering attempts that might lead them to visit malicious sites designed to exploit this flaw. From a defensive architecture perspective, enabling strict Content Security Policies and disabling unnecessary browser features like remote debugging in production environments can reduce the attack surface. Monitoring for anomalous network traffic or unusual process behavior may also aid in detecting exploitation attempts before full compromise occurs.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which describes use after free errors resulting from improper memory management practices that lead to dereferencing pointers pointing to freed memory regions. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit falls under Tactic Execution and specifically relates to techniques involving client-side code execution such as Client-Side Scripting or potentially Command and Control if used for initial access followed by lateral movement. The classification underscores the importance of rigorous static analysis and fuzz testing in browser development pipelines to detect memory safety issues before deployment. Continuous monitoring of vulnerability databases and prompt patch management remain essential defenses against evolving threats that target complex software ecosystems like web browsers.