Google Chrome: Use after free in WebAppInstalls allows sandboxed code execution
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in the WebAppInstalls component of Google Chrome desktop allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. Exploitation requires that a user visits a crafted HTML page. The CVSS base score is 8.8 (High), and Google rates the Chromium security severity as Low.
Affected
- Google Chrome desktop builds before 156.0.8078.47 (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Build numbers differ by platform; the vendor advisory lists 156.0.8078.47 or 156.0.8078.48 depending on the platform
- Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge may be affected until they ingest the Chromium fix; the fixed Edge build is unknown
- Ubuntu chromium-browser packages: not affected (the Chromium snap is the relevant update path)
Fixed in
- Google Chrome 156.0.8078.47 or later per the Stable Channel Update for Desktop of 20 October 2026; newer Chrome 156 Stable builds are available and should be deployed
- Debian: DSA 6577-1 (22 October 2026) and DLA 4853-1 (23 October 2026) for chromium
- Microsoft Edge: fixed build unknown
Workaround
- No workaround known; update Chrome is the required measure.
- No vendor-documented interim workaround found. Unknown.
Exploitation
- Not listed in CISA KEV according to one tracker entry; no in-the-wild exploitation found.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- EPSS shown as 0.00572 by one aggregator.
Our recommendation
- Update Google Chrome to the current Chrome 156 Stable build on all desktops.
- Check version compliance centrally and keep automatic updates enabled.
- Refresh the Chromium snap on Ubuntu systems and update Microsoft Edge once the fixed build is confirmed.
- Monitor for related WebAppInstalls vulnerabilities and apply updates promptly.
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 553146562 issues.chromium.org
- Ubuntu security: CVE-2026-113021 ubuntu.com
- Vulners CVE record (CVELIST) vulners.com
- Vulners Microsoft CVE record vulners.com
- Google Chrome on Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
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, 14:57.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in WebAppInstalls in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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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