CVE-2026-15772 Overview
CVE-2026-15772 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the GPU component of Google Chrome on Android. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 150.0.7871.125. An attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can leverage a crafted HTML page to potentially escape the Chrome sandbox. Google's Chromium team rated the security severity as High. Sandbox escape vulnerabilities remove a critical isolation boundary between untrusted web content and the underlying Android operating system.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation chains a renderer compromise with this bug to break out of Chrome's sandbox, granting attackers broader access to the Android device.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome on Android prior to 150.0.7871.125
- Google Android devices running vulnerable Chrome builds
- Chromium-based browsers on Android sharing the affected GPU code path
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-14 - CVE-2026-15772 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-07-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-15772
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the GPU process of Google Chrome on Android. A use-after-free condition occurs when memory is referenced after being released, allowing attacker-controlled data to occupy the freed allocation. In Chrome's multi-process architecture, the GPU process runs at a higher privilege level than the renderer sandbox. Exploiting this flaw enables an attacker with existing renderer control to corrupt GPU process memory. The result is a sandbox escape that bridges from a compromised tab into the more privileged GPU process context.
Root Cause
The underlying weakness is a Use After Free [CWE-416] in the GPU component. Object lifetime management in the GPU code path fails to prevent access to a freed object. When the renderer issues crafted commands, dangling pointer dereferences trigger memory corruption. See the Chromium Issue Tracker for additional technical detail.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires a two-stage chain. First, the attacker must compromise the renderer process, typically through a separate memory corruption bug triggered by malicious web content. Second, the attacker delivers a crafted HTML page that exercises the vulnerable GPU code path from the compromised renderer. User interaction is required because the victim must visit or be redirected to attacker-controlled content. The attack complexity is high due to the prerequisite renderer compromise and required exploitation primitives.
No public proof-of-concept code is available for this issue. Technical specifics are restricted in the Chromium tracker pending broad patch adoption.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-15772
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes of the Chrome GPU process on Android devices, particularly with SIGSEGV signals referencing freed graphics objects
- Chrome browser versions on Android reporting builds earlier than 150.0.7871.125
- Anomalous child process spawning or memory-mapped region changes originating from the Chrome GPU process
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed Android endpoints and flag any build below 150.0.7871.125
- Monitor mobile threat defense telemetry for browser process crashes correlated with visits to untrusted domains
- Correlate web proxy logs with device crash reports to identify HTML payloads targeting GPU-process memory
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Chrome crash reporting and forward diagnostics to a centralized log platform for triage
- Track Google Chrome Stable Channel release advisories and alert on out-of-cycle security updates
- Baseline normal Chrome GPU process behavior on managed devices to surface deviations that may indicate exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-15772
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome on Android to version 150.0.7871.125 or later through Google Play
- Enforce a mobile device management policy requiring current Chrome builds before granting corporate resource access
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites on unpatched devices until updates are applied
Patch Information
Google addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome Stable Channel update documented at the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Users should upgrade to Chrome 150.0.7871.125 or later on Android. Managed device fleets should confirm auto-update is enabled in Google Play.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching is the only complete remediation
- Reduce exposure by avoiding untrusted or unknown websites on affected Chrome versions
- Consider temporarily using an alternative, up-to-date browser on Android devices that cannot immediately receive the Chrome update
# Verify installed Chrome version on Android via adb
adb shell dumpsys package com.android.chrome | grep versionName
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
