CVE-2026-11694: Google Chrome Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-11694 Overview

CVE-2026-11694 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the ServiceWorker component of Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.103 across Windows, macOS, and Linux. An attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can leverage a crafted HTML page to execute arbitrary code inside the Chrome sandbox. Google classifies the Chromium security severity as High. The issue requires user interaction and high attack complexity, but it expands the impact of an existing renderer compromise by enabling additional code execution primitives within the sandbox boundary.

Critical Impact
Attackers who have compromised the renderer process can execute arbitrary code inside the Chrome sandbox via a crafted HTML page that triggers a use-after-free in ServiceWorker.

Affected Products

Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.103 on Microsoft Windows
Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.103 on Apple macOS
Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.103 on Linux

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-09 - CVE-2026-11694 published to NVD
2026-06-09 - Last updated in NVD database
2026-06 - Google releases Stable Channel update for Desktop addressing the issue (see Google Chrome Stable Update)

Technical Details for CVE-2026-11694

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's ServiceWorker implementation, a background script controller that intercepts network requests and manages caching for web pages. ServiceWorker objects hold complex lifetime relationships with the browser, renderer, and network stacks. A use-after-free occurs when code continues to reference a ServiceWorker-related object after it has been freed. Dereferencing the dangling pointer allows an attacker to manipulate freed memory contents and redirect control flow inside the renderer-bound ServiceWorker process. Because ServiceWorker code paths execute under sandboxed Chromium processes, exploitation yields code execution constrained by the sandbox, not full host compromise. Chained with a sandbox escape, the bug becomes a building block for a full browser exploit chain.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management [CWE-416] in the ServiceWorker component. A reference to a ServiceWorker-associated object persists after the underlying allocation has been released, leaving a dangling pointer that subsequent operations dereference.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires a prior compromise of the renderer process and user interaction with a crafted HTML page. The attacker delivers a malicious page that registers or interacts with a ServiceWorker in a sequence that triggers premature object destruction, then operates on the freed object to gain arbitrary code execution within the sandbox. Public proof-of-concept code is not available, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS data lists the exploit probability at 0.08%. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for upstream technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11694

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer or utility process crashes referencing content::ServiceWorker* symbols or ServiceWorkerVersion frames in crash dumps
Unexpected child process spawns from chrome.exe or Google Chrome Helper (Renderer) following navigation to untrusted pages
Outbound network connections from Chrome helper processes to unfamiliar infrastructure shortly after rendering a third-party HTML page

Detection Strategies

Inventory Chrome installations across the fleet and flag any version below 149.0.7827.103 as exposed
Hunt for browser-spawned cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript activity, which would indicate a renderer-to-host escape chained with this bug
Correlate Chrome crash telemetry with browsing history to surface pages that consistently produce ServiceWorker-related faults

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward endpoint process-creation and module-load telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for cross-host correlation
Monitor Chrome update channels and alert on hosts where automatic updates have stalled or been disabled
Track ServiceWorker registration events on sensitive web properties to identify abuse patterns originating from compromised renderers

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11694

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.103 or later on Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
Restart Chrome on every managed host to ensure the patched binary is loaded, since pending updates do not apply until relaunch
Validate that enterprise update policies such as UpdateDefault and AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes are enforcing timely Chrome updates

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-11694 in the Chrome Stable Channel release 149.0.7827.103. Details are published in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi inherit the fix once they rebase on the corresponding Chromium release; administrators should verify each browser vendor's advisory for the matching build number.

Workarounds

Restrict browsing to trusted sites through enterprise web filtering until patching completes, since exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted page
Enforce Chrome site isolation and ensure the sandbox is not disabled by command-line flags such as --no-sandbox
Deploy Chrome Enterprise policies to disable ServiceWorker registration on high-risk user groups where business workflows permit

bash

# Verify the installed Chrome version meets the patched baseline
# Windows (PowerShell)
(Get-Item "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe").VersionInfo.ProductVersion

# macOS
/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --version

# Linux
google-chrome --version

# Required: 149.0.7827.103 or later