CVE-2026-8521

Arbitrary code execution via Tab Groups use-after-free

Published May 14, 2026 · Updated May 14, 2026

Use after free in Tab Groups in Google Chrome before 148.0.7778.168 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via network traffic. Google identifies the affected locus only as Tab Groups and has not disclosed which freed object is reused or which network input triggers the stale reference. No privileges or user interaction are required, but the attack must originate from an adjacent network and meet high-complexity conditions.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use after free in Tab Groups in Google Chrome before 148.0.7778.168 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via network traffic. Google identifies the affected locus only as Tab Groups and has not disclosed which freed object is reused or which network input triggers the stale reference. No privileges or user interaction are required, but the attack must originate from an adjacent network and meet high-complexity conditions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-8521
Published
May 14, 2026
Updated
May 14, 2026
Vendor
Go standard library
Product
Google Chrome
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 14, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=148.0.7778.168 <148.0.7778.168

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Go standard library · Google Chromeversion=148.0.7778.168 <148.0.7778.168

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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