Google Chrome: Memory corruption in Media component allows sandboxed code execution
Summary
Google Chrome for desktop contains a memory corruption flaw (CWE-119) in the Media component. A remote attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox by luring a user to a crafted HTML page. The attack requires user interaction, such as visiting a malicious site or opening a link in a phishing email. Chromium rates the issue High, and CISA SSVC lists technical impact as total.
Affected
- Google Chrome for desktop prior to 156.0.8078.73 (per CVE description)
- Range boundary as stated in the CVE record and VulDB differs; confirm on NVD
Fixed in
- Google Chrome 156.0.8078.73 (stable update of 27 Oct 2026, reported for Windows, macOS and Linux)
- A later stable release on 30 Oct 2026 (156.0.8078.79/.80) is reported to include the fix as well
- Ubuntu lists the chromium-browser package as not affected; the Chromium snap status is not stated
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation known at the time of research
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no
- No public proof of concept found; CISA KEV status not verified directly
Our recommendation
- Update all Chrome desktop installations to 156.0.8078.73 or later, preferably the latest stable build, within days
- Enforce the update via Chrome Enterprise policy or MDM and verify the version on each endpoint (chrome://version)
- Check that Chromium snap and other Chromium-based browsers are also updated
- Monitor the Chromium bug tracker and vendor advisory for further details
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
- Malwarebytes: Chrome and Firefox updates fix serious security flaws www.malwarebytes.com
- Chrome Geek: Chrome 156 security update www.chromegeek.com
- PiunikaWeb: Google Chrome 156 security update piunikaweb.com
- Ubuntu CVE tracker: CVE-2026-118311 ubuntu.com
- VulDB: CVE-2026-118311 entry vuldb.com
- OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-118311 radar.offseq.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, 10:04.
Original description (NVD)
Memory corruption in Media in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.73 allowed a remote attacker to potentially 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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