CVE-2026-13029: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-13029 Overview

CVE-2026-13029 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Web Authentication component of Google Chrome. The flaw affects versions prior to 149.0.7827.197 and is classified under CWE-416. An attacker who convinces a user to install a malicious extension can trigger heap corruption through a crafted Chrome Extension. Successful exploitation can lead to memory corruption within the browser process, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution in the renderer or extension context. Google's Chromium project rated the security severity as High. The issue was published to the National Vulnerability Database on June 24, 2026.

Critical Impact
A malicious Chrome Extension can corrupt the heap in the Web Authentication subsystem, enabling potential code execution and compromise of the browser process.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.197
Chromium-based browsers incorporating the vulnerable Web Authentication code
Desktop installations on Windows, macOS, and Linux receiving the Stable channel update

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-24 - CVE-2026-13029 published to NVD
2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-13029

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Web Authentication (WebAuthn) implementation, which handles credential management for FIDO and platform authenticators. A use-after-free condition occurs when the browser dereferences a heap object after it has been released. A malicious Chrome Extension can drive the affected code paths in a way that leaves a dangling pointer to a freed object. Reusing that memory with attacker-influenced data corrupts the heap and can redirect execution flow inside the browser process.

Exploitation requires user interaction because the victim must install the malicious extension. Once installed, the extension operates with the privileges granted to extensions and can repeatedly invoke the affected WebAuthn APIs to shape the heap. The attack vector is network-reachable through extension distribution channels and crafted web content that interacts with the extension.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management in the Web Authentication code path. Chrome frees an object referenced by WebAuthn handling logic while another code path retains a pointer to that object. Subsequent access to the freed memory produces undefined behavior the attacker can shape. See the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for project-tracked details.

Attack Vector

The attacker first publishes or sideloads a malicious Chrome Extension and convinces the user to install it. The extension invokes WebAuthn operations in a sequence that triggers the use-after-free. Heap grooming primitives available to extensions allow the attacker to place controlled data into the freed slot. Heap corruption then enables further memory-safety exploitation against the renderer or extension process.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. Refer to the Google Chrome Stable Update for vendor commentary.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13029

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Chrome extensions installed outside of approved enterprise policy or the Chrome Web Store allowlist
Chrome renderer or utility process crashes referencing WebAuthn modules in crash dump telemetry
Extension manifests requesting webauthn-related permissions from unverified publishers
Outbound connections from Chrome child processes to attacker-controlled domains shortly after extension installation

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome extensions across the fleet and compare against an approved baseline
Monitor Chrome version strings reported by endpoints and alert on builds older than 149.0.7827.197
Correlate browser crash artifacts with extension installation events to identify exploitation attempts
Hunt for extension sideloading via developer mode, registry keys, or policy file modifications

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Chrome Enterprise reporting to centralize extension inventory and version telemetry
Forward Windows Application crash events (Event ID 1000) referencing chrome.exe to the SIEM for correlation
Track process creation events where Chrome spawns unexpected child processes following extension activity
Alert on modifications to the ExtensionInstallForcelist or ExtensionInstallAllowlist policy entries

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13029

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.197 or later on all managed endpoints
Audit installed extensions and remove any from untrusted or unknown publishers
Enforce an extension allowlist through Chrome Enterprise policy to block unsanctioned installations
Restart Chrome after patch deployment to ensure the vulnerable build is no longer in memory

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Stable channel update referenced in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Administrators should confirm clients have received the update through Chrome's automatic update mechanism or via managed deployment tooling. Chromium-based browsers that consume upstream fixes should be updated to the corresponding patched build.

Workarounds

Disable extension installation for standard users by setting ExtensionInstallBlocklist to * until patching is complete
Restrict extension installation to a curated ExtensionInstallAllowlist containing only vetted IDs
Prohibit developer mode and extension sideloading through DeveloperToolsAvailability policy controls
Communicate guidance to users to avoid installing extensions from outside the Chrome Web Store

bash

# Configuration example: Chrome Enterprise policy to block all extensions except an allowlist
# Windows registry (HKLM)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallBlocklist" /v 1 /t REG_SZ /d "*" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallAllowlist" /v 1 /t REG_SZ /d "<approved-extension-id>" /f

# macOS managed preferences (plist)
defaults write com.google.Chrome ExtensionInstallBlocklist -array "*"
defaults write com.google.Chrome ExtensionInstallAllowlist -array "<approved-extension-id>"