CVE-2026-13802: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-13802 Overview

CVE-2026-13802 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the Views component of Google Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.47. A remote attacker who convinces a user to perform specific user interface gestures can trigger the flaw through a crafted HTML page. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution within the Chrome renderer context. Google classifies the Chromium security severity as High and released a fix in the Stable channel desktop update.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on victim systems by luring users to a malicious HTML page and inducing specific UI interactions.

Affected Products

Google Chrome for Desktop versions prior to 150.0.7871.47
Chromium-based browsers incorporating the vulnerable Views component
All supported desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-13802 published to NVD
2026-07-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-13802

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Views subsystem of Chrome, which handles the browser's user interface widget hierarchy. Views manages window layout, focus, and event dispatch across UI elements. A use-after-free condition occurs when the code references a Views object whose backing memory has already been released. Attackers who control the freed allocation can steer execution into attacker-supplied data.

Exploitation requires the target to visit a crafted HTML page and perform specific UI gestures. This user interaction requirement raises attack complexity but does not eliminate risk against typical browsing workflows. Successful exploitation yields code execution inside the Chrome process, providing a foothold for sandbox escape chains or data theft.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifetime management of a Views object [CWE-416]. Code paths triggered by particular UI events retain a pointer to a Views element after that element has been destroyed. Reuse of the dangling pointer dereferences freed memory that an attacker can groom with controlled content.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-reachable and delivered through web content. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page or compromises an existing site. The victim must load the page and perform the required UI gestures, such as targeted clicks, drags, or focus changes. No authentication is needed. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker #501623322 for restricted technical details once access is granted.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13802

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer or browser process crashes with access violations in Views-related stack frames shortly after visiting untrusted pages.
Unexpected child processes spawned by chrome.exe following browsing sessions on unfamiliar domains.
Outbound connections from Chrome to newly registered domains hosting HTML content designed to trigger UI interactions.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any build below 150.0.7871.47.
Correlate browser crash telemetry with Windows Error Reporting or macOS crash logs to surface potential exploitation attempts.
Hunt for suspicious post-exploitation behavior originating from Chrome processes, such as script interpreter launches or credential store access.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable centralized logging of endpoint process trees to identify anomalous descendants of the browser process.
Monitor HTTP telemetry for uncategorized destinations delivering HTML that requests unusual pointer, focus, or drag events.
Track Chrome auto-update status through enterprise management tooling to confirm patch propagation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13802

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 150.0.7871.47 or later on every desktop endpoint.
Force-restart Chrome after update deployment to ensure the vulnerable code is unloaded from memory.
Restrict browsing to trusted sites for users who cannot immediately patch, particularly on high-value systems.

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Stable channel desktop update. Details are available in the Google Chrome Desktop Update announcement. Enterprise administrators should validate deployment through Chrome Browser Enterprise policies and confirm the chrome://version string reports 150.0.7871.47 or higher.

Workarounds

Deploy Chrome enterprise policies to disable or restrict access to untrusted external sites until patching completes.
Use site isolation and enhanced Safe Browsing settings to reduce the risk of exposure to crafted HTML pages.
Advise users to avoid interacting with unexpected UI prompts, drag targets, or focus changes on unfamiliar sites.

bash

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

# Windows registry check for enterprise-managed Chrome version
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv