CVE-2026-13026: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-13026 Overview

CVE-2026-13026 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Digital Credentials component of Google Chrome on macOS. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.197 and is tracked under CWE-416. A remote attacker can trigger heap corruption by enticing a user to visit a crafted HTML page. Google has rated the Chromium security severity as High. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution within the renderer process, providing a foothold for further attacks against the host system.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can corrupt heap memory in the Chrome renderer process via a malicious web page, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on macOS endpoints.

Affected Products

Google Chrome for macOS versions prior to 149.0.7827.197
Chromium-based browsers on macOS that incorporate the affected Digital Credentials component
Enterprise macOS deployments running unpatched Chrome stable channel builds

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-24 - CVE-2026-13026 published to NVD
2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-13026

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Digital Credentials API implementation within Google Chrome on macOS. Digital Credentials provides web platform access to verifiable identity credentials stored on the device. A use-after-free condition exists when the component releases a heap-allocated object while another execution path retains a dangling pointer to it. Subsequent dereference of that pointer enables an attacker to manipulate freed heap memory.

User interaction is required to trigger the flaw, typically by loading attacker-controlled content. The attacker delivers a crafted HTML page that invokes Digital Credentials operations in a specific sequence. Exploitation produces heap corruption inside the renderer process, which is the standard primitive used in Chrome exploit chains to achieve code execution. A renderer compromise on macOS is typically combined with a sandbox escape to achieve full system impact.

Root Cause

The root cause is incorrect object lifetime management in the Digital Credentials code path. An object is freed while still referenced, violating the memory safety contract enforced for CWE-416 classes of bugs. The defect is resolved in Chrome 149.0.7827.197 as referenced in the Google Chrome Desktop Update and tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker Report.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. A victim must visit a malicious or compromised web page in a vulnerable Chrome build on macOS. No prior authentication or privileges are required on the target system. Common delivery methods include phishing links, malvertising, watering-hole sites, and compromised third-party content embedded via iframes.

The vulnerability is described in prose rather than code because no public proof-of-concept is currently available. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Report for technical details once access restrictions are lifted.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13026

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Chrome renderer process crashes on macOS endpoints, particularly with heap corruption signatures in crash dumps
macOS endpoints running Chrome versions earlier than 149.0.7827.197 accessing untrusted URLs
Browser child processes spawning shells, scripting interpreters, or persistence components shortly after navigation events

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across macOS endpoints and flag any build below 149.0.7827.197
Monitor for anomalous child process creation from the Chrome Helper (Renderer) process on macOS
Inspect web proxy and DNS logs for connections to newly registered or low-reputation domains immediately preceding renderer crashes

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize macOS endpoint telemetry, including process lineage, network connections, and crash reports, in a SIEM or data lake for correlation
Alert on Chrome ReportCrash events that reference renderer or GPU processes with heap corruption stack frames
Track Chrome version compliance as a continuous configuration metric and surface drift in dashboards

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13026

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome on all macOS endpoints to version 149.0.7827.197 or later
Restart Chrome after the update so the patched binary is loaded across all processes
Audit enterprise Chrome management policies to confirm automatic updates are enabled and unblocked

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome stable channel for desktop. Administrators should deploy Chrome 149.0.7827.197 or later as documented in the Google Chrome Desktop Update. The corresponding bug is referenced in the Chromium Issue Tracker Report.

Workarounds

Disable or restrict the Digital Credentials API via enterprise policy where supported until patching is complete
Use web filtering or DNS security controls to block access to untrusted and uncategorized sites for unpatched hosts
Restrict use of vulnerable Chrome builds on macOS through application allowlisting until updates are confirmed installed

bash

# Configuration example: verify Chrome version on macOS endpoints
/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --version

# Force an update check via the Google Update helper
"/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/GoogleSoftwareUpdate.bundle/Contents/Resources/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent" -runMode oneshot -userInitiated YES