CVE-2026-79245 Overview
CVE-2026-79245 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the UI component of Google Chrome prior to version 152.0.7977.65. A local attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can leverage the flaw to execute arbitrary code outside the Chrome sandbox through a local program. The issue represents a sandbox escape primitive, chaining renderer compromise with UI-layer memory corruption to gain broader code execution on the host. Google has addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome Stable channel update.
Critical Impact
Attackers with an existing renderer compromise can escape the Chrome sandbox and execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 152.0.7977.65 (Stable channel)
- Chromium-based browsers sharing the vulnerable UI component code
- Desktop platforms distributing pre-patch Chrome builds
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-25 - CVE-2026-79245 published to NVD
- 2026-08-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-79245
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition [CWE-416] in Chrome's UI subsystem. Use-after-free flaws occur when a program continues to reference memory after that memory has been released. An attacker who controls the freed object's contents can steer program execution toward attacker-supplied data, resulting in arbitrary code execution.
In this case, the flaw resides in the browser process UI layer, which runs with higher privileges than the sandboxed renderer. Exploitation requires the attacker to have already compromised the renderer process. From that position, the attacker triggers the dangling UI object condition to break out of the Chrome sandbox and execute code in the browser process context.
Successful exploitation results in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a scope change reflecting the sandbox escape from renderer to host.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper object lifetime management in a UI component. A UI object is freed while a reference to it remains reachable, allowing subsequent operations to dereference stale memory. Details are tracked in Chromium Issue Tracker #520179360.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires a two-stage chain. The attacker first compromises the sandboxed renderer process, typically through a separate renderer-side vulnerability or malicious web content. The attacker then invokes a local program pathway that exercises the vulnerable UI code, triggering the use-after-free and pivoting execution into the browser process outside the sandbox.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory for vendor details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-79245
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome browser processes spawning unexpected child processes outside the standard renderer/GPU/utility hierarchy
- Crash reports or Chrome error logs referencing UI component memory access violations
- Unexpected local program launches originating from a Chrome browser process context
- Presence of Chrome installations reporting a version earlier than 152.0.7977.65
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any build older than 152.0.7977.65.
- Monitor for anomalous process lineage where chrome.exe (or platform equivalent) spawns non-standard binaries.
- Correlate browser crash telemetry with subsequent process creation events to identify potential sandbox escape chains.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable endpoint process creation logging with full command-line capture for browser process trees.
- Ingest Chrome crash dumps and stability telemetry into a central data lake for retrospective analysis.
- Alert on suspicious IPC or shared memory access patterns between renderer and browser processes.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-79245
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later on all managed endpoints.
- Restart Chrome after installation so the patched binaries load into memory.
- Verify that Chromium-based third-party browsers have released and applied equivalent updates.
- Audit enterprise update channels to confirm automatic update policies are functioning.
Patch Information
Google addressed CVE-2026-79245 in the Chrome Stable channel release 152.0.7977.65. Refer to the Google Chrome Stable Update release notes for full details. The fix corrects the object lifetime handling in the affected UI component.
Workarounds
- No official workarounds exist; patching is the only supported remediation.
- Restrict use of Chrome on high-value hosts until the update has been deployed.
- Enforce least-privilege user accounts to limit post-exploitation impact if a sandbox escape occurs.
# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS endpoints
google-chrome --version
# Windows: query installed version via registry
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\BLBeacon" /v version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
