CVE-2026-13027: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-13027 Overview

CVE-2026-13027 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the FileSystem component of Google Chrome prior to version 149.0.7827.197. A remote attacker can exploit heap corruption by serving a crafted HTML page to a targeted user. The Chromium project rated this issue High severity. The flaw maps to [CWE-416: Use After Free] and requires user interaction, typically through visiting an attacker-controlled web page.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can lead to heap corruption and potential arbitrary code execution within the Chrome renderer process, exposing browser data and providing a foothold for further attacks.

Affected Products

Google Chrome Desktop versions prior to 149.0.7827.197
Chromium-based browsers consuming the affected FileSystem code path
All operating system builds of Chrome that have not received the Stable channel update

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-24 - CVE-2026-13027 published to NVD
2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-13027

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's FileSystem implementation, which exposes sandboxed file storage APIs to web content. A use-after-free condition occurs when the browser dereferences a pointer to a FileSystem object after that object has already been released. An attacker who controls the timing of object allocation and destruction can place attacker-controlled data into the freed memory region. The browser then operates on this corrupted memory, leading to heap corruption.

Exploitation is initiated through a crafted HTML page, meaning the attack is delivered over the network and requires the victim to load attacker-controlled content. The user interaction requirement is satisfied when a target visits a malicious page or loads it through an iframe on a compromised site.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management within the FileSystem component, classified as [CWE-416]. References between asynchronous FileSystem operations and their backing objects are not consistently invalidated, allowing reuse of a freed allocation. Technical details are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page that issues a sequence of FileSystem API calls to trigger the free and subsequent reuse of an object. Once heap layout is shaped, attacker-controlled data overlaps the freed structure. Code execution within the renderer sandbox is the typical outcome, which is often chained with a sandbox escape for full system compromise.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. Technical details are described in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry and the Google Chrome Desktop Update advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13027

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Chrome renderer process crashes with heap corruption signatures in crash dumps
Outbound connections from Chrome to unfamiliar domains shortly after a user visits an untrusted site
Spawning of child processes from chrome.exe that are inconsistent with normal browser activity
Chrome versions reporting below 149.0.7827.197 across managed endpoints

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any build earlier than 149.0.7827.197
Monitor for anomalous post-exploitation behavior originating from browser processes, including suspicious file writes and process creation
Correlate browser crash telemetry with web proxy logs to identify users who visited suspicious pages prior to a crash

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable browser process telemetry through EDR to capture parent-child relationships and memory anomalies
Track web filtering logs for newly registered or low-reputation domains delivering HTML payloads with heavy FileSystem API usage
Alert on Chrome renderer crashes that repeat across multiple endpoints, which can indicate a campaign exploiting the same flaw

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13027

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.197 or later on all managed endpoints
Restart Chrome after the update to ensure the patched binary is loaded
Verify Chromium-based browsers in the environment have integrated the upstream fix
Restrict access to untrusted websites through web filtering until patching is complete

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Stable channel update for desktop. Administrators should deploy Chrome 149.0.7827.197 or later. Full release notes are available in the Google Chrome Desktop Update advisory.

Workarounds

Enforce automatic Chrome updates through enterprise policy to reduce patch latency
Apply site isolation and strict third-party cookie policies to limit renderer exposure
Use group policy to disable or restrict legacy FileSystem APIs where business requirements allow
Deploy URL filtering and DNS security to block known malicious domains hosting exploit content

bash

# Configuration example: enforce minimum Chrome version via enterprise policy (Windows)
# Set the following registry value to require auto-update to the patched build
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Update" /v UpdateDefault /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v TargetVersionPrefix /t REG_SZ /d "149.0.7827.197" /f