CVE-2026-13878 Overview
CVE-2026-13878 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the Bluetooth component of Google Chrome on macOS. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.47. A remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can leverage a crafted HTML page to trigger the condition and potentially escape the Chrome sandbox. Google's Chromium project rated the security severity as Medium, while the National Vulnerability Database assigns a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6 due to the scope change and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables sandbox escape from a compromised renderer, giving attackers execution outside Chrome's protected process boundary on macOS endpoints.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome for macOS versions prior to 150.0.7871.47
- Apple macOS systems running vulnerable Chrome builds
- Chromium-based browsers on macOS that share the affected Bluetooth code path
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-13878 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-07-01 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-13878
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Bluetooth implementation on macOS. Use-after-free conditions occur when code continues to reference memory after it has been freed, allowing attackers to control the contents of the reclaimed allocation. In this case, the freed object is reachable through the Bluetooth interface exposed to renderer processes.
Exploitation requires two preconditions. The attacker must already control the renderer process, typically through a prior renderer-side bug. The attacker must also convince the user to load a crafted HTML page that interacts with Bluetooth APIs. The combination allows the attacker to break out of Chrome's site-isolation sandbox on macOS.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper lifetime management of a Bluetooth-related object accessible from the renderer-to-browser IPC surface. When the renderer issues a sequence of Bluetooth operations, an object is released while a dangling reference remains reachable. Subsequent operations dereference the stale pointer, allowing controlled memory reuse.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based with user interaction required. An attacker delivers a crafted HTML page to a target whose renderer has been compromised by a chained exploit. The page issues Bluetooth API calls that trigger the freed-object reuse, corrupting browser-process memory and enabling sandbox escape. Successful exploitation grants code execution at the privilege level of the Chrome browser process on macOS.
No public proof-of-concept code or exploit is available in ExploitDB or on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of publication. Technical details are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-13878
Indicators of Compromise
- macOS Chrome processes spawning unexpected child processes or writing to atypical file system locations following browsing sessions
- Chrome browser-process crashes with signatures referencing Bluetooth or device::BluetoothDevice objects
- Outbound connections from the Chrome helper process to unknown command-and-control infrastructure shortly after a page load
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome versions across macOS endpoints and flag any build below 150.0.7871.47
- Correlate renderer crash telemetry with subsequent browser-process anomalies to identify potential exploitation chains
- Monitor Chrome auto-update status and alert on hosts where updates are disabled or stalled
Monitoring Recommendations
- Collect endpoint telemetry for Chrome process lineage, code signing, and injected modules on macOS
- Ingest Chrome crash reports centrally and hunt for Bluetooth-related stack frames
- Track use of navigator.bluetooth Web Bluetooth calls in enterprise proxy or browser telemetry where available
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-13878
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome on all macOS endpoints to version 150.0.7871.47 or later
- Verify auto-update is enabled and enforce a mandatory browser restart to apply the patch
- Prioritize patching on hosts assigned to high-value users or those with broad network access
Patch Information
Google addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome Stable channel release documented in the Google Chrome Update Announcement. Users must be running Chrome 150.0.7871.47 or newer on macOS to receive the fix. Chromium downstream vendors should incorporate the corresponding upstream patch.
Workarounds
- Disable Web Bluetooth via enterprise policy by setting DefaultWebBluetoothGuardSetting to 2 in the Chrome managed policy plist
- Restrict Chrome extension installation and enforce site isolation to reduce initial renderer compromise risk
- Block untrusted sites through DNS filtering or secure web gateway policies until patching completes
# Configuration example: disable Web Bluetooth via macOS Chrome managed policy
sudo defaults write /Library/Managed\ Preferences/com.google.Chrome \
DefaultWebBluetoothGuardSetting -int 2
# Verify installed Chrome version on macOS
/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
