Google Chrome: Use-after-free in browser component allows code execution
Summary
A use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the Browser component of Google Chrome allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox. The attack requires that a user opens a crafted HTML page, and no login is needed. The CVE record names Windows only; secondary sources also list Linux and Mac. The CVE does not describe a sandbox escape, so full system compromise would normally require a second flaw.
Affected
- Google Chrome on Windows prior to 156.0.8078.73 (per CVE record)
- Secondary sources (HKCERT) also list Linux and Mac before 156.0.8078.73; not confirmed by Google's advisory
- Chromium-based products (e.g. Edge, Brave, Vivaldi): Unknown
- Ubuntu chromium-browser package: not affected (installs the Chromium snap)
Fixed in
- Google Chrome 156.0.8078.73 or later (Stable update of 27 October 2026)
- A later build, 156.0.8078.79/.80, is reported by a download site; not verified against Google's advisory
Workaround
- No vendor workaround known.
- Apply the update; Chrome updates in the background, but browsers may stay outdated if they are not restarted or if an extension blocks updates.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- No reports of in-the-wild exploitation found.
- No public proof-of-concept exploit found as of 26 October 2026.
- A third-party feed says the CVE is not in the CISA KEV catalog; not verified directly.
- EPSS: 0.33 % (as cited in the CVE data; values change over time).
Our recommendation
- Update Chrome on all Windows endpoints to 156.0.8078.73 or later within days, and check Linux and Mac systems as well.
- Enforce updates via Chrome Enterprise policy or MDM and verify installed versions.
- Check whether other Chromium-based browsers on your systems have received the fix.
- Monitor the Chrome Releases blog and CISA KEV for changes in exploitation status.
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 575090745 issues.chromium.org
- Ubuntu security: CVE-2026-118330 ubuntu.com
- HKCERT security bulletin: Google Chrome multiple vulnerabilities www.hkcert.org
- CIS advisory: Multiple vulnerabilities in Google Chrome www.cisecurity.org
- OffSeq radar: CVE-2026-118330 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, 09:56.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 156.0.8078.73 allowed a remote attacker to 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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