CVE-2026-11293: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-11293 Overview

CVE-2026-11293 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Input component of Google Chrome prior to version 149.0.7827.53. A remote attacker can trigger the flaw by serving a crafted HTML page, potentially achieving a sandbox escape from the renderer process. The issue is tracked under [CWE-416: Use After Free] and affects Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, such as visiting an attacker-controlled web page. Although Chromium rates the underlying defect as low severity, the chained sandbox escape impact elevates the CVSS score to 9.6.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can escape the Chrome sandbox via a crafted HTML page, breaking out of renderer isolation and reaching host-level execution context.

Affected Products

Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.53
Chrome desktop builds on Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux
Downstream Chromium-based browsers that have not picked up the upstream fix

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-05 - CVE-2026-11293 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-11293

Vulnerability Analysis

The defect lives in Chrome's Input subsystem, which handles user-driven events such as pointer, keyboard, and touch input dispatch within the renderer. A use-after-free condition occurs when code retains a pointer to an input-related object after that object has been freed. Subsequent operations dereference the dangling pointer, allowing an attacker to influence freed memory contents and hijack control flow inside the renderer process.

Because the bug is reachable from web content, an attacker delivers the exploit through a crafted HTML page. Chained with appropriate primitives, the renderer compromise pivots into a sandbox escape, breaking the isolation boundary between web content and the host operating system. The scope change reflected in the CVSS vector (S:C) captures this cross-boundary impact.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifetime management of an Input-related object in Chrome's Blink or content layer. Reference tracking fails to keep the object alive while a callback or pending task still holds a raw pointer to it. Once the object is freed, attacker-controlled JavaScript reallocates the memory and steers later use into attacker-influenced state. See the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for upstream tracking metadata.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires a victim to load a crafted HTML page in a vulnerable Chrome build. The page triggers a specific sequence of input events and DOM manipulations that free the target object and then reuse it. No authentication is required, and the attack succeeds entirely over the network. The combination of a renderer-level use-after-free with a sandbox escape primitive means the attacker reaches code execution outside the renderer sandbox, with consequences far beyond a typical web-content compromise.

Verified public exploit code is not available. Refer to the Google Chrome Update Announcement for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11293

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome processes spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters from a renderer context
Unexpected file writes or persistence artifacts created by chrome.exe outside its normal cache and profile directories
Renderer crashes with use-after-free signatures in Chrome crash telemetry shortly before suspicious host activity
Outbound connections from Chrome child processes to non-browsing infrastructure following visits to untrusted pages

Detection Strategies

Inventory Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any installation below 149.0.7827.53
Hunt for renderer-to-host process lineage anomalies, focusing on Chrome utility or GPU processes launching scripting hosts
Correlate browser crash dumps referencing input event dispatch frames with subsequent process creation events
Inspect web proxy logs for users visiting low-reputation domains followed immediately by Chrome process anomalies

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable enterprise reporting for Chrome crash and security events through Chrome Browser Cloud Management
Forward endpoint process, file, and network telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for cross-host correlation
Track Chrome auto-update status and alert when devices remain on outdated builds beyond a defined SLA
Monitor for execution of unsigned binaries dropped into user-writable paths by browser child processes

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11293

Immediate Actions Required

Update Chrome to version 149.0.7827.53 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
Restart browser sessions after the update to ensure the patched binary is loaded into memory
Audit Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) and apply vendor updates that incorporate the upstream Chromium fix
Restrict browsing to trusted destinations for any device that cannot be patched immediately

Patch Information

Google addressed the issue in the Stable channel update announced on 2026-06-05. Upgrade to Chrome 149.0.7827.53 or later. Distribution details are available in the Google Chrome Update Announcement and the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Workarounds

Enforce Chrome auto-update through enterprise policy so users cannot defer the patch
Apply site isolation and strict URL allowlists via group policy to reduce exposure to untrusted HTML content
Deploy browser hardening policies that disable unnecessary features and restrict execution of downloaded payloads
Use application control to prevent Chrome child processes from launching scripting or shell interpreters

bash

# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Windows: query installed version from the registry
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv

# Force policy-driven update check (Windows, requires admin)
"%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --check-for-update-interval=1