CVE-2026-14417: Google Chrome Dawn Use After Free Flaw

CVE-2026-14417 Overview

CVE-2026-14417 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the Dawn component of Google Chrome. Dawn is Chrome's open-source implementation of the WebGPU standard. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.46 and allows a remote attacker to potentially perform a sandbox escape through a crafted HTML page. Google's Chromium security team rated the underlying issue as Critical severity. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, specifically visiting a malicious or compromised web page. Because Dawn interfaces directly with the GPU process, a successful exploit can break out of the renderer sandbox and reach higher-privileged browser components.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can trigger memory corruption in the Dawn WebGPU component and pivot toward a Chrome sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page.

Affected Products

Google Chrome Desktop versions prior to 150.0.7871.46
Chromium-based browsers embedding vulnerable Dawn/WebGPU builds
Applications shipping the affected Chromium runtime through frameworks such as Electron and CEF

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-01 - CVE-2026-14417 published to NVD
2026-07-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-14417

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Dawn, the Chromium implementation of the WebGPU API. WebGPU exposes low-level graphics and compute capabilities to JavaScript running in the browser. The bug is a use-after-free condition tracked under [CWE-416]. An attacker delivers JavaScript that manipulates WebGPU objects such as devices, command encoders, or buffers in a specific sequence. This sequence causes Dawn to reference memory that has already been freed. The attacker can then reclaim the freed memory with attacker-controlled data before it is dereferenced. Because Dawn code runs with elevated privileges relative to the renderer sandbox, successful memory corruption enables an attacker to bypass sandbox boundaries. The reference public data does not indicate active exploitation. The EPSS probability is 0.19%.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifetime management of WebGPU objects handled by Dawn. When an object is released, one or more references remain reachable through JavaScript-visible handles or internal command buffers. Subsequent operations dereference the stale pointer.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is remote and requires user interaction. A victim must load a crafted HTML page that issues WebGPU calls through JavaScript. No credentials are required. The scope is changed, reflecting the sandbox escape potential from the renderer into the GPU process context.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Chromium Issue Tracker #516649133 and the Google Chrome Desktop Update for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-14417

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome or Chromium processes crashing with signatures referencing dawn::, wgpu::, or the GPU process during rendering of untrusted pages
Unexpected child process spawns from chrome.exe or the GPU process after visiting external web content
Outbound network connections initiated by the GPU or renderer process to previously unseen infrastructure

Detection Strategies

Inventory endpoints running Chrome builds earlier than 150.0.7871.46 and flag them for prioritized patching
Hunt for anomalous process trees where Chrome renderer or GPU processes launch shells, scripting hosts, or living-off-the-land binaries
Correlate browser crash telemetry with subsequent process creation or persistence events to surface exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward Chrome crash reports and endpoint process telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for anomaly detection
Monitor for downloads or execution of secondary payloads shortly after browser activity to untrusted domains
Track WebGPU feature usage on managed browsers through Chrome enterprise reporting to identify unusual patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-14417

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 150.0.7871.46 or later on all managed endpoints
Restart browsers after updating to ensure the patched binaries are loaded into running sessions
Audit Chromium-based applications and embedded browser frameworks for the updated Dawn component

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-14417 in Chrome Stable channel version 150.0.7871.46. Details are documented in the Google Chrome Desktop Update release notes. Chromium-based browser vendors should pull the corresponding Dawn fix into their downstream builds.

Workarounds

Disable WebGPU via the chrome://flags/#enable-unsafe-webgpu setting or enterprise policy until patching is complete
Restrict access to untrusted websites through URL filtering or browser isolation for high-risk user groups
Enforce automatic Chrome updates via the ChromeAutoUpdateEnabled enterprise policy to close the exposure window

bash

# Enforce Chrome auto-update and disable WebGPU via enterprise policy (Linux example)
sudo tee /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/cve-2026-14417.json > /dev/null <<'EOF'
{
  "ChromeAutoUpdateEnabled": true,
  "DefaultWebUsbGuardSetting": 2,
  "URLBlocklist": ["webgpu://*"],
  "ComponentUpdatesEnabled": true
}
EOF