CVE-2026-13787: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-13787 Overview

CVE-2026-13787 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Chromoting component of Google Chrome on Windows. Chromoting is the internal name for Chrome Remote Desktop functionality. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.47 and allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code by delivering malicious network traffic. Google's Chromium security team rated the underlying issue as Critical severity. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-416: Use After Free.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution within the Chrome process on Windows endpoints via crafted network traffic targeting the Chromoting component.

Affected Products

Google Chrome on Windows versions prior to 150.0.7871.47
Microsoft Windows systems running vulnerable Chrome builds
Deployments using Chrome Remote Desktop (Chromoting) functionality

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-13787 published to NVD
2026-07-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-13787

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chromoting, the module that implements Chrome Remote Desktop on Windows. A use-after-free condition occurs when the component references memory that has already been released. An attacker who can influence the sequencing of network traffic processed by Chromoting can trigger the freed allocation to be reused with attacker-controlled data. This corrupts internal object state and can redirect execution flow. Google classifies the underlying Chromium security severity as Critical, while NVD scores it as High due to increased attack complexity. Google has patched the issue in Chrome 150.0.7871.47 on the Stable channel.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management inside the Chromoting code path [CWE-416]. A pointer or handle continues to be used after the underlying object has been freed, producing a dangling reference. When the freed memory is reallocated with attacker-influenced content, subsequent operations on the stale reference operate on the new data. This primitive can be leveraged to corrupt virtual tables or callback structures and pivot to code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network based and requires no user interaction and no privileges. An attacker sends malicious network traffic that the Chromoting component processes, triggering the use-after-free. Exploitation complexity is high because the attacker must win a memory reuse race and align the heap layout. Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code execution in the context of the affected Chrome process. See the Chromium Issue Tracker #522919313 and the Google Chrome Desktop Update for technical references.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13787

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome processes on Windows spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe shortly after Chromoting activity.
Unusual outbound network connections initiated by chrome.exe following inbound remote desktop traffic.
Chrome crash reports referencing remoting:: symbols or heap corruption on Windows endpoints running vulnerable builds.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across Windows fleets and flag any build below 150.0.7871.47.
Alert on process lineage where chrome.exe launches shells, script interpreters, or living-off-the-land binaries.
Correlate Chromoting network sessions with subsequent anomalous memory allocation or module load events inside Chrome.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor endpoints for Chrome Remote Desktop usage in environments where it is not sanctioned and disable it where unnecessary.
Capture EDR telemetry for browser process memory anomalies and unexpected code execution paths originating from chrome.exe.
Track patch compliance status for Chrome across managed Windows devices and escalate stale versions.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13787

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome on all Windows systems to version 150.0.7871.47 or later via the Stable channel.
Restart Chrome after the update to ensure the patched binaries are loaded into memory.
Disable Chrome Remote Desktop on endpoints that do not require it until patching is confirmed.

Patch Information

Google addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome Stable channel update to 150.0.7871.47. Administrators should validate deployment through enterprise update mechanisms such as Google Update, Microsoft Intune, or Group Policy. Full details are available in the Google Chrome Desktop Update advisory.

Workarounds

Block or restrict Chrome Remote Desktop traffic at the network perimeter for hosts that cannot be updated immediately.
Enforce browser update policies through enterprise management to prevent version drift.
Restrict use of the Chromoting host component to trusted users and networks pending patch deployment.

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv

# Force Chrome update check via Google Update
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /ua /installsource scheduler