CVE-2026-11250 Overview
CVE-2026-11250 is a vulnerability in the DevTools component of Google Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.53. The flaw stems from an inappropriate implementation classified under [CWE-416] (Use After Free). A remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can craft a malicious HTML page to read sensitive information from process memory. Google's Chromium project rated the underlying security severity as Low, while the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) assigned a higher CVSS base score reflecting cross-scope impact. The issue affects Chrome builds on Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops.
Critical Impact
An attacker controlling a compromised renderer can leverage DevTools internals to exfiltrate sensitive process memory contents via a crafted HTML page.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.53
- Chrome desktop builds for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux
- Chromium-based browsers that have not absorbed the upstream fix
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-05 - CVE-2026-11250 published to NVD
- 2026-06-05 - Last updated in NVD database
- 2026-06 - Google releases Stable Channel update addressing the issue
Technical Details for CVE-2026-11250
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Chrome's DevTools subsystem, the developer instrumentation surface exposed to the renderer process. According to the vendor advisory, an inappropriate implementation allows a remote attacker who has already compromised a renderer to extract data from process memory. The associated weakness identifier [CWE-416] indicates a Use After Free condition, in which freed memory remains reachable through stale references. When DevTools-handled objects are accessed after deallocation, attacker-controlled JavaScript can observe residual data such as pointers, tokens, or content from sibling allocations.
The scope change reflected in the CVSS vector indicates that exploitation can reach beyond the sandboxed renderer boundary. Although the Chromium project labels the security severity as Low, the issue still extends an attacker's existing renderer foothold into a broader information disclosure primitive useful for building reliable sandbox escapes.
Root Cause
The root cause is an object lifetime mismanagement bug within DevTools handlers. Code paths reference DevTools-related objects after their backing memory has been released. Attackers who script the renderer can trigger the freeing path and then reuse the dangling reference through a crafted HTML page that drives DevTools-exposed APIs in an unexpected order.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires the attacker to first compromise the renderer process, typically through a prior memory corruption bug or a malicious extension. The attacker then loads a crafted HTML page that manipulates DevTools state to trigger the dangling reference. User interaction is required, consistent with browser-driven exploitation. Successful exploitation yields read access to sensitive process memory, which can include credentials, cookies, or addresses needed to chain further vulnerabilities.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11250
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome processes running versions earlier than 149.0.7827.53 in enterprise telemetry
- Renderer processes exhibiting unexpected crashes or memory access violations correlated with DevTools activity
- Loading of unsolicited HTML payloads that programmatically invoke DevTools protocol endpoints
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any build below 149.0.7827.53
- Monitor for child renderer processes spawning with --remote-debugging-port or DevTools-related flags outside developer workflows
- Correlate browser crash dumps with navigation events to suspicious or newly registered domains
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward browser process telemetry, including command-line arguments and module loads, to a centralized analytics platform
- Alert on Chrome processes accessing credential stores or memory regions shortly after navigation to untrusted origins
- Track extension install events, since malicious extensions are a common precursor to renderer compromise
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11250
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.53 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
- Restart browser instances after deployment to ensure the patched binary is loaded into memory
- Audit installed browser extensions and remove any that are unsigned, unmaintained, or unnecessary
- Restrict use of DevTools and remote debugging in managed enterprise profiles where feasible
Patch Information
Google addressed the issue in the Chrome Stable Channel release 149.0.7827.53. Refer to the Google Chrome Stable Channel Update and the Chromium Issue Tracker entry for vendor details. Chromium-based browsers including Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi should be updated as their vendors absorb the upstream fix.
Workarounds
- Enforce automatic Chrome updates through enterprise policy to minimize the exposure window
- Block navigation to untrusted sites at the network egress to reduce delivery of crafted HTML payloads
- Disable the DevTools surface for non-developer users via the DeveloperToolsAvailability policy where operationally acceptable
- Apply site isolation and strict extension allow-lists to limit the impact of an initial renderer compromise
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
