Google Chrome: Use-after-free in WTF allows code execution in sandbox
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in WTF, Chromium's internal base library, affects Google Chrome desktop builds before 156.0.8078.73. A remote attacker can execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox by luring a user to a crafted HTML page. The attack needs no login, but the user must open the page, and the CVSS base score is 8.8 (High). Code execution is limited to the sandbox, so full system compromise would normally need a second sandbox-escape flaw.
Affected
- Google Chrome desktop builds before 156.0.8078.73 (per CVE record)
- Vendor advisory details not fully verified; see fixed versions
Fixed in
- Linux: 156.0.8078.73 or later (per secondary CIS advisory)
- Windows and Mac: 156.0.8078.74 or later (per secondary CIS advisory; the CVE record lists only 156.0.8078.73, so confirm with the Chrome Releases post)
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor-recommended workaround found. Updating is the only effective mitigation.
Exploitation
- Not flagged as exploited in the Chrome Releases post (not verified against the live CISA KEV catalog).
- No public proof of concept known.
- Reported internally by Google researchers on 2 October 2026.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- EPSS 0.26 % (percentile 18).
Our recommendation
- Update Chrome on all desktops to 156.0.8078.74 or later (Windows and Mac) or 156.0.8078.73 or later (Linux).
- Restart Chrome after the update, because the fix only takes effect after a restart.
- Check devices where updates are disabled or pinned by policy.
- Verify the installed version via chrome://settings/help.
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 575851252 issues.chromium.org
- CIS advisory: multiple vulnerabilities in Google Chrome www.cisecurity.org
- CVE record mirror CVE-2026-118356 cve.threatint.com
- OffSeq threat radar CVE-2026-118356 radar.offseq.com
- Ubuntu Updates: google-chrome-stable www.ubuntuupdates.org
- Malware.news: Chrome and Firefox updates fix serious security flaws malware.news
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, 09:46.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in WTF in Google Chrome 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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