Google Chrome: Use after free in Actor allows code execution in sandbox
Summary
A use-after-free memory error in the Actor component of Google Chrome desktop allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. The attacker needs a victim to open a crafted HTML page, so the risk is mainly drive-by exposure through links or compromised websites. The vendor rates the issue Low, and no active exploitation is known. The NVD description and the CNA description differ slightly in wording, so the NVD record should be used as the reference.
Affected
- Google Chrome desktop builds before 156.0.8078.47 (per CVE description)
- Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge are listed as affected in a third-party bulletin; check their own vendor advisories
Fixed in
- Chrome 156.0.8078.47 or later is the minimum fixed version per the CVE description
- Windows and macOS: use the latest Chrome 156 stable build; the exact build carrying the fix on each platform could not be confirmed from the vendor page
- Linux distributions: Debian has issued updates for chromium; Ubuntu's chromium-browser package is a wrapper, so check the Chromium snap version separately
Workaround
- No vendor workaround found; the fix is a browser update
- Keep automatic updates enabled and restart browsers after updates
- Until patched, verify browser versions on all endpoints
Exploitation
- In the wild: No evidence found in the reviewed sources
- Public proof of concept: None found
- Vendor severity: Low (Chromium security severity); CVSS 3.1 base score 8.8 in NVD
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical impact total
Our recommendation
- Update Google Chrome (and Chromium-based Edge) to the latest Chrome 156 stable build on all workstations, including remote and BYOD devices
- Check browser versions across all endpoints and confirm the update was applied after restart
- Include the update in the normal browser patch cycle with priority comparable to other high-CVSS browser fixes
- Monitor the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog for changes
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
- NVD record via Vulners vulners.com
- CVE list entry via Vulners vulners.com
- Ubuntu CVE tracker ubuntu.com
- HKCERT security bulletin for Microsoft Edge www.hkcert.org
- Strix CVE summary www.strix.ai
- Vulners MS CVE entry vulners.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, 13:41.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Actor 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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