Google Chrome: Use after free in PDF component
Summary
Google Chrome versions before 155.0.8059.79 contain a use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the built-in PDF component. A remote attacker can use a crafted HTML page to execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. The attack requires that a user visits the malicious page, but no login is needed.
Affected
- Google Chrome (desktop) prior to 155.0.8059.79, according to the CVE text
- Linux distribution Chromium packages may lag behind upstream; Ubuntu lists its chromium-browser package as not affected because it uses the Chromium snap
Fixed in
- Google Chrome 155.0.8059.79 (Windows and Mac: 155.0.8059.79/.80; Linux: 155.0.8059.79), per the vendor's Stable Channel update of 13 October 2026
- Debian bookworm: 155.0.8059.79-1~deb12u1
- Later Chrome 156 builds are reported by secondary sources to include this fix; this was not confirmed in the vendor advisory
Workaround
- Not needed, since a patch exists
- Until updated, avoid opening untrusted PDFs and links in the browser (general advice, not a vendor recommendation for this CVE)
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact
- Not listed in CISA KEV; EPSS 0.21%
- No public exploit or proof of concept found, and no in-the-wild exploitation reported as of the research date
Our recommendation
- Check the Chrome version on all endpoints, or use the management console reports
- Update Chrome to at least 155.0.8059.79, preferably the current stable release
- On Linux, check the distribution's Chromium package status instead of assuming a fix
- Review the Chrome Enterprise update policy so that browsers restart and install updates
- Prioritise unmanaged Chrome installations and Linux systems using packaged Chromium
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Chrome Releases: Stable Channel Update for Desktop chromereleases.googleblog.com
- Chromium issue tracker issues.chromium.org
- Debian OSV record osv.dev
- Ubuntu security notice ubuntu.com
- Malwarebytes: Chrome fixes 37 security flaws www.malwarebytes.com
- VulDB entry vuldb.com
- GitHub CVE tracker (KEV/EPSS data) github.com
- Chrome Enterprise update policy support.google.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 31 Oct 2026, 17:04.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in PDF in Google Chrome prior to 155.0.8059.79 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside 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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