CVE-2026-12464: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-12464 Overview

CVE-2026-12464 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the Browser process of Google Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.155. An attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can leverage a crafted HTML page to potentially escape the Chrome sandbox. The flaw affects Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Google's Chromium team rated the issue High severity in its stable channel update advisory.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables a sandbox escape from the renderer to the privileged Browser process, allowing attackers to execute code outside Chrome's sandbox boundary on the host operating system.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.155
Chrome desktop on Microsoft Windows
Chrome desktop on Apple macOS and Linux

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-17 - CVE-2026-12464 published to NVD
2026-06-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-12464

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition in the Chrome Browser process. The Browser process manages privileged operations such as network requests, file system access, and inter-process communication with sandboxed renderers. A use-after-free occurs when code dereferences a pointer to memory that has already been released, allowing an attacker to influence the contents of the freed allocation and hijack control flow or corrupt state.

In this case, a renderer that has already been compromised can deliver a crafted HTML page that drives the Browser process into the vulnerable code path. Because the Browser process runs with higher privileges than the renderer, controlled reuse of the freed object can be chained into a sandbox escape. The CVSS vector indicates the attack changes scope, reflecting the privilege boundary crossed during exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is an object lifetime management error in a Browser-process component reachable from renderer IPC messages. A reference to a heap object is retained after the object is destroyed, and a subsequent operation dereferences the stale pointer. The Chromium issue tracker entry issue 519358344 tracks the underlying defect.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires two stages. First, the attacker must already control the renderer process, typically through a separate renderer-side bug or a malicious extension. Second, the attacker delivers a crafted HTML page that triggers the vulnerable Browser-process code path through IPC. User interaction is required, and the attack complexity is high because the attacker must combine multiple primitives to achieve reliable exploitation. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-12464

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome Browser process (chrome.exe, Google Chrome Helper) terminating unexpectedly or spawning unusual child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters.
Chrome processes writing to or reading from paths outside the normal browser profile directory.
Outbound connections initiated by the Browser process to untrusted hosts immediately after a user visits a new web page.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for parent-child process anomalies where Chrome's Browser process spawns native binaries that are not part of normal browser operation.
Inspect crash telemetry for repeated Browser-process crashes referencing freed-object dereferences or heap corruption signatures.
Correlate browser navigation events with subsequent unusual file or registry modifications performed by Chrome processes.

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize Chrome version inventory across managed endpoints and flag any host running a build older than 149.0.7827.155.
Forward endpoint process telemetry and Chrome crash reports to a SIEM or data lake for behavioral analysis.
Monitor extension installation events and renderer compromises, since this bug requires a pre-existing renderer foothold.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-12464

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.155 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
Restart Chrome after the update so the patched binary is loaded; pending updates do not take effect until relaunch.
Audit installed Chrome extensions and remove any that are unverified or unnecessary to reduce renderer-compromise risk.

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-12464 in the Chrome stable channel update documented in the Google Chrome Update Blog. Administrators should deploy 149.0.7827.155 or later through enterprise update channels such as Chrome Browser Cloud Management, Microsoft Intune, or Jamf.

Workarounds

Enforce automatic Chrome updates through enterprise policy until all endpoints are confirmed on the fixed version.
Restrict installation of third-party extensions using the ExtensionInstallAllowlist and ExtensionInstallBlocklist policies to reduce renderer-compromise paths.
Apply site isolation and strict HTTPS policies to limit the attack surface available to untrusted web content.

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\BLBeacon" /v version

# Verify installed Chrome version on macOS
defaults read /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/Info CFBundleShortVersionString

# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux
google-chrome --version