CVE-2026-7980: Google Chrome Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-7980 Overview

CVE-2026-7980 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the WebAudio component of Google Chrome. The flaw affects all Chrome builds prior to version 148.0.7778.96 across Windows, macOS, and Linux. A remote attacker can trigger the condition by serving a crafted HTML page to a victim browser. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution within the Chrome renderer sandbox. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-416] and was resolved in the Chrome stable channel update published by Google.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code inside the Chrome renderer sandbox by luring users to a malicious web page, enabling further sandbox escape attempts and credential theft.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Microsoft Windows
• Google Chrome versions prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Apple macOS
• Google Chrome versions prior to 148.0.7778.96 on Linux

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-06 - CVE-2026-7980 published to NVD
• 2026-05-06 - Last updated in NVD database
• 2026-05 - Google releases Chrome stable channel update addressing the issue

Technical Details for CVE-2026-7980

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's WebAudio implementation. WebAudio is the browser API that processes and synthesizes audio in web applications. A use-after-free condition occurs when the renderer references memory that has already been released. Attackers can manipulate object lifetimes through crafted JavaScript and HTML to control the freed memory region. Once the freed object is reused, the attacker gains primitives for arbitrary code execution within the renderer process.

Exploitation requires user interaction. The victim must load a malicious page or visit a compromised site that hosts the exploit payload. Code execution is constrained to the Chrome sandbox, but renderer compromise is typically chained with a sandbox escape to achieve full system access. See the Chromium Issue Tracker #497859275 for the upstream technical record.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management within WebAudio graph nodes. Chromium classifies the issue under [CWE-416], use after free. Reference counting or ownership semantics fail when audio nodes are disconnected or destroyed during processing, leaving dangling pointers reachable from JavaScript-driven event handlers.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page containing JavaScript that exercises WebAudio APIs to trigger the freed object reuse. Delivery channels include phishing links, malicious advertisements, watering-hole compromises, and cross-site iframes. No authentication is required, and the exploit executes immediately on page load once the user navigates to the attacker-controlled resource.

No verified proof-of-concept code has been published. Refer to the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7980

Indicators of Compromise

• Chrome renderer processes (chrome.exe --type=renderer) crashing or spawning unexpected child processes shortly after browsing activity
• Outbound connections from browser processes to newly registered or low-reputation domains hosting WebAudio-heavy JavaScript
• Unsigned or unexpected modules loaded into Chrome processes following page navigation

Detection Strategies

• Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any build below 148.0.7778.96 as vulnerable
• Hunt for browser child processes executing shells, script interpreters, or LOLBins, which indicate post-renderer-compromise activity
• Correlate web proxy logs with EDR telemetry to identify users who visited suspicious pages immediately before browser anomalies

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward Chrome process telemetry, command lines, and network connections to your SIEM or data lake for retrospective hunting
• Alert on anomalous memory access violations or crash dumps generated by chrome.exe renderer processes
• Monitor browser update compliance through endpoint management tooling and produce daily exception reports

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7980

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 148.0.7778.96 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
• Force a browser restart through endpoint management to ensure the patched binary is loaded
• Validate Chromium-based derivatives such as Edge, Brave, and Opera for vendor patches that incorporate the upstream fix

Patch Information

Google addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome stable channel release documented in the Google Chrome Stable Update. Administrators should deploy version 148.0.7778.96 or newer through Group Policy, Jamf, Intune, or equivalent management tooling. The Chromium project tracks the underlying defect in Chromium Issue Tracker #497859275.

Workarounds

• Restrict browsing to trusted sites using URL filtering or DNS-layer controls until patching completes
• Disable or limit WebAudio API usage through enterprise browser policies where business requirements allow
• Enforce Site Isolation and the strictest available sandbox policies via Chrome enterprise configuration

# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Windows: query installed version via registry
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Chrome\BLBeacon" /v version

# macOS: read the bundled version string
defaults read /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/Info CFBundleShortVersionString