Google Chrome: Use-after-free in TabStrip allows code execution
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in the TabStrip tab bar component of Google Chrome desktop can be exploited by a remote attacker who uses social engineering to get the user to open a crafted HTML page. Successful exploitation could allow arbitrary code execution outside the browser sandbox, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability. Google rates the Chromium security severity as High, and the CVSS base score is 9.6 (critical).
Affected
- Google Chrome desktop versions prior to 155.0.8059.39 (CWE-416)
- The CVE record's affected range is inconsistent ("155.0.8059.39 to < 155.0.8059.39"); the vendor advisory and the CVE description are used here.
Fixed in
- Google Chrome 155.0.8059.39 for Linux
- Google Chrome 155.0.8059.39 and 155.0.8059.40 for Windows and macOS (per the vendor advisory of 6 October 2026, as cited in the research notes)
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, technical impact total.
- User interaction (opening a crafted HTML page) and social engineering are required.
Our recommendation
- Update Google Chrome on all desktop systems to 155.0.8059.39 or later (155.0.8059.40 on Windows and macOS).
- Verify the installed version via chrome://settings/help and enforce automatic updates centrally.
- Restrict browser use on sensitive systems and train users to avoid links and pages from unknown sources.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Chrome Releases: Stable Channel Update for Desktop (6 October 2026) chromereleases.googleblog.com
- Chromium issue tracker 562002095 issues.chromium.org
- OSV: DEBIAN-CVE-2026-106211 osv.dev
- CIS Security advisory: multiple vulnerabilities in Google Chrome www.cisecurity.org
- Tenable Nessus plugin 366658 www.tenable.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 30 Oct 2026, 23:21.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in TabStrip in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.39 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to potentially execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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