CVE-2026-79266: Chrome DevTools Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-79266 Overview

CVE-2026-79266 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the DevTools component of Google Chrome versions prior to 152.0.7977.65. A remote attacker can exploit the flaw by convincing a user to install a crafted Chrome extension, leading to arbitrary code execution inside the browser sandbox. Chromium classifies the security severity as Medium, while the NVD assigns a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8. The attack requires user interaction through social engineering, but no elevated privileges are needed to trigger the flaw.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution within the Chrome sandbox through a malicious extension interacting with DevTools.

Affected Products

Google Chrome Desktop versions prior to 152.0.7977.65
Chromium-based browsers incorporating the vulnerable DevTools code
Chrome Stable channel builds released before the August 2026 update

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-25 - CVE-2026-79266 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-08-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-79266

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's DevTools subsystem, which provides debugging and inspection capabilities for web content and extensions. A use-after-free condition occurs when DevTools code references memory that has already been released. An attacker who can trigger the freed object's reuse can steer control flow and execute arbitrary code within the renderer sandbox.

Because DevTools interfaces are reachable from Chrome extensions with the appropriate permissions, a crafted extension can invoke the vulnerable code paths. The attacker still operates within the sandbox, but sandboxed code execution provides a strong foothold for chaining with sandbox escape bugs.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management in DevTools [CWE-416]. A pointer or handle continues to reference an object after its backing memory has been freed. Subsequent access reads or writes attacker-influenced data at the freed allocation, corrupting internal state.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the victim to install a malicious Chrome extension delivered through social engineering. Once installed, the extension interacts with DevTools APIs to trigger the freed-memory access. No authentication is needed, and the attack is network-reachable through extension distribution channels or attacker-controlled sites that lure users into sideloading. See the Chromium Issue #537145191 tracker for coordination details.

No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is available at the time of publication.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-79266

Indicators of Compromise

Installation of unverified or sideloaded Chrome extensions from outside the Chrome Web Store
Chrome renderer or DevTools process crashes with signatures consistent with heap corruption
Extensions requesting the devtools permission from unknown publishers
Unexpected child processes spawned from chrome.exe following extension activity

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed browser extensions across managed endpoints and flag deviations from an approved allowlist
Monitor endpoint telemetry for Chrome crash events referencing DevTools modules on unpatched hosts
Correlate extension installation events with subsequent anomalous network connections from the browser process
Alert on Chrome versions below 152.0.7977.65 reported by asset management or EDR inventory

Monitoring Recommendations

Track Chrome version distribution continuously and enforce update compliance through group policy or MDM
Log and review browser extension changes on high-value endpoints, including developer workstations
Ingest Chrome crash reports and browser process telemetry into a centralized data lake for cross-host correlation

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-79266

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.65 or later on all managed endpoints
Restart Chrome after updating to ensure the patched binaries are loaded into memory
Audit installed extensions and remove any unverified or unnecessary entries
Restrict extension installation to a curated allowlist using enterprise policy

Patch Information

Google addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome Stable channel release documented in the Google Chrome Stable Update announcement. Upgrading to Chrome 152.0.7977.65 or later remediates the flaw. Chromium-based browsers should incorporate the corresponding upstream fix.

Workarounds

Enforce the ExtensionInstallAllowlist and ExtensionInstallBlocklist policies to prevent installation of untrusted extensions
Disable developer mode extension loading for standard users through enterprise policy
Educate users on social engineering tactics that push malicious Chrome extensions

bash

# Example Chrome enterprise policy (Windows registry) restricting extensions
# HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallBlocklist
# Value: 1 = "*"  (block all by default)
# HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallAllowlist
# Value: 1 = "<approved-extension-id>"
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallBlocklist" /v 1 /t REG_SZ /d "*" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallAllowlist" /v 1 /t REG_SZ /d "<approved-extension-id>" /f