Google Chrome: Use after free in BrowserTag allows sandboxed code execution
Summary
Google Chrome versions before 156.0.8078.47 contain a use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the BrowserTag component. A remote attacker can use a crafted HTML page to execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. The attack requires that a user opens the malicious page; no privileges are needed. Google rates the severity as Medium in Chromium.
Affected
- Google Chrome before 156.0.8078.47 (desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Chromium-based products that ingest the Chromium fix are affected until they are updated (vendor advisories apply)
Fixed in
- Google Chrome 156.0.8078.47 or later (Chrome 156 stable release of October 20, 2026)
- Exact fixed build numbers per platform: see Google's advisory; newer stable builds exist
- Unknown: fixed package versions of Linux distributions (Debian, FreeBSD) and Microsoft Edge
Workaround
- Unknown. No workaround is documented; the fix is a browser update.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found.
- Not listed in CISA KEV.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
Our recommendation
- Update Google Chrome to the current stable build on all endpoints and check the version via Menu > Help > About Google Chrome.
- Check Chromium-based browsers (for example Microsoft Edge) and apply their vendor updates.
- Patch within the normal browser update cycle; treat as urgent if a reliable exploit appears or the CVE is added to CISA KEV.
- Remind users not to open untrusted links and pages.
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
- CVE record aggregator (Vulners) vulners.com
- Ubuntu security tracker ubuntu.com
- Microsoft CVE aggregator (Vulners) vulners.com
- Strix CVE page www.strix.ai
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, 13:02.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in BrowserTag 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: 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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