Google Chrome: Use-after-free in Core on macOS
Summary
A use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the Core component of Google Chrome on macOS allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. The attack requires a crafted HTML page that the user must open, but no authentication. Chromium rates the severity as Medium and CVSS 3.1 as 8.8 (High). Full system compromise would normally require a second sandbox-escape flaw.
Affected
- Google Chrome on macOS prior to 156.0.8078.47
- Other platforms are not listed as affected in the CVE record.
Fixed in
- Chrome 156.0.8078.47 or later for macOS (CVE record). Secondary sources list 156.0.8078.48 for macOS in the 20 Oct 2026 stable release. The vendor advisory could not be retrieved and should be checked.
- Later Chrome builds (for example the 27 Oct 2026 update) include newer fixes. Whether they contain this specific fix is not confirmed.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround was found. Updating Chrome is the control.
Exploitation
- No evidence of in-the-wild exploitation found. Not confirmed in CISA KEV.
- No public proof-of-concept found.
- EPSS: 0.00443 (low exploitation probability).
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Check the Chrome version on all Macs via MDM or chrome://version and update to the latest 156.x build.
- Enforce automatic updates and restart Chrome after updating.
- Check Microsoft Edge on Macs as well (Chromium-based, fixed in 156.0.4314.42 or later).
- Prioritise Mac fleets with unmanaged Chrome installations.
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
- Microsoft MSRC update guide msrc.microsoft.com
- Ubuntu security CVE-2026-113165 ubuntu.com
- Vulners CVE mirror vulners.com
- HKCERT Microsoft Edge security bulletin www.hkcert.org
- BrowserHow Chrome 156 stable update browserhow.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, 13:22.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Core in Google Chrome on on Mac 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: Medium)
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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