CVE-2026-14048: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-14048 Overview

CVE-2026-14048 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Chromecast component of Google Chrome prior to version 150.0.7871.47. An attacker on the same local network segment can exploit the flaw through a malicious peripheral to read sensitive information from Chrome's process memory. The issue is tracked under CWE-416 and rated by Chromium as Low severity, though NVD scoring places it in the medium range due to adjacent-network attack characteristics and high confidentiality impact.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation leaks potentially sensitive data from Chrome process memory over the local network via a malicious Chromecast peripheral, without requiring user interaction.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.47
Chrome installations on Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux
Environments where Chrome interacts with Chromecast peripherals on the local network

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-14048 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-07-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-14048

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Chromecast integration, which handles discovery and communication with Cast-enabled peripherals on the local network. A use-after-free condition occurs when the Chromecast component continues referencing a memory object after it has been freed. An attacker with access to the same network segment can trigger this dangling reference by presenting a malicious peripheral that responds with crafted protocol data.

Once triggered, the freed memory region can be read while it still contains residual process data. This exposes fragments of Chrome's memory space, which may include tokens, session identifiers, or other sensitive artifacts held by the browser process. The attack does not require user interaction and does not require privileges on the target host.

The confidentiality-only impact profile indicates the flaw is scoped as an information disclosure primitive rather than a path to code execution. However, use-after-free conditions in browser components frequently serve as building blocks for more complex exploit chains when combined with additional bugs.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifetime management inside Chrome's Chromecast handling code. An object is released while another code path retains a pointer to it, and that pointer is later dereferenced during peripheral communication. This matches the CWE-416 pattern documented for the issue.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network adjacency. The attacker must be on the same local network segment as the victim, typically Wi-Fi or a shared LAN, and must operate a device that impersonates or behaves as a malicious Chromecast peripheral. Chrome's Cast discovery and session logic then processes attacker-controlled input that triggers the use-after-free. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for upstream technical details.

No verified proof-of-concept code has been published for CVE-2026-14048, and no synthetic exploit code is provided here.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-14048

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Chromecast or mDNS/DIAL discovery traffic originating from unknown devices on the local subnet
Chrome renderer or browser process crashes referencing Cast-related modules following network peripheral interaction
Unfamiliar Cast-capable devices advertising services on corporate Wi-Fi segments

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any build older than 150.0.7871.47
Monitor endpoint telemetry for abnormal memory access patterns or crash signatures in Chrome processes tied to Cast components
Correlate host-based crash events with concurrent local-network Cast discovery activity to surface exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Log and review mDNS, SSDP, and DIAL protocol traffic on user network segments for rogue Cast advertisers
Track Chrome auto-update compliance through management tooling and alert on stalled updates
Enable browser crash reporting to central telemetry to catch repeated failures in Cast code paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-14048

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 150.0.7871.47 or later on Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
Verify enterprise Chrome update policies are enforcing the patched Stable channel build
Restrict untrusted devices from joining network segments used by corporate endpoints, particularly guest Wi-Fi bridges

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome Stable channel update documented at the Google Chrome Stable Update announcement. Deploying Chrome 150.0.7871.47 or newer eliminates the use-after-free condition in the Chromecast component.

Workarounds

Disable the Cast feature in Chrome via enterprise policy where casting is not a business requirement
Segment corporate endpoints away from guest and IoT networks to prevent adjacency with untrusted peripherals
Block outbound mDNS and Cast discovery traffic on network segments where casting is not sanctioned

bash

# Example: disable Cast via Chrome enterprise policy on Linux
# /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/disable_cast.json
{
  "EnableMediaRouter": false,
  "ShowCastIconInToolbar": false
}