Sandboxed code execution via DevTools use-after-free
Published Aug 25, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome before 152.0.7977.65 allows remote attackers to execute code inside the sandbox. Google has not disclosed the affected DevTools object or the operation that leaves it reachable after its lifetime ends. Exploitation requires social engineering that causes a crafted Chrome extension to run, and the reported code execution remains confined to the browser sandbox.
Summary
What happened
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome before 152.0.7977.65 allows remote attackers to execute code inside the sandbox. Google has not disclosed the affected DevTools object or the operation that leaves it reachable after its lifetime ends. Exploitation requires social engineering that causes a crafted Chrome extension to run, and the reported code execution remains confined to the browser sandbox.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-78944
- Published
- Aug 25, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Google Chrome
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1203, T1204
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=152.0.7977.65 <152.0.7977.65
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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