CVE-2026-11118: Chrome WebRTC Use-After-Free RCE Vulnerability

Technical summary

CVE-2026-11118 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the WebRTC subsystem of Google Chrome prior to version 149.0.7827.53. The vulnerability allows remote code execution within the browser sandbox through a maliciously crafted HTML page. The attack requires only network access and user interaction (following a link or viewing embedded content), with no elevated privileges needed. The sandbox confinement limits impact to the renderer process, but could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to escape the sandbox entirely.

Business impact

For organizations relying on Chrome as their primary browser, this vulnerability poses a direct risk to employee workstations and could facilitate data theft, malware installation, or lateral movement if combined with additional exploits. The low barrier to exploitation—a simple malicious webpage—increases the probability of widespread exposure, particularly through phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Regulatory or compliance-dependent environments may face incident response obligations if systems are compromised through this vector.

Affected systems

Google Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.53 are vulnerable across all operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. While the ground-truth data lists associated operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), the vulnerability itself resides in the Chrome browser application. Organizations running Chrome on any of these platforms should be considered at risk.

Exploitability

This vulnerability has a high exploitability profile. It requires only network access and basic user interaction (visiting a webpage); no authentication, user privileges, or special browser configurations are necessary. The attack surface is large—any webpage the user visits could host the exploit. However, the vulnerability is not currently known to be in active exploitation according to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The use-after-free condition may require precise memory manipulation and timing, but these challenges are well within the capabilities of a competent attacker.

Remediation

Immediate patching to Chrome version 149.0.7827.53 or later is the primary remediation. Users should enable automatic updates or manually check for available updates via Chrome's settings menu (Chrome > About Google Chrome). Organizations should enforce Chrome version policies through mobile device management (MDM) or endpoint management tools to ensure compliance across the fleet. Until patches can be applied, consider restricting access to untrusted websites through proxy filtering or network policies as a temporary mitigation.

Patch guidance

Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.53 or later. Verify the installed version by navigating to chrome://settings/help, which will automatically check for updates. For managed environments, push updates through your organization's deployment tools (e.g., Google Admin, Intune, Jamf) to ensure rapid rollout. Test patches in a non-production environment first if your organization has critical Chrome-dependent workflows. Monitor for any compatibility issues with internal web applications post-update.

Detection guidance

Monitor for suspicious Chrome crashes or renderer process terminations, which may indicate exploitation attempts. Network-based detection is limited without full packet inspection; however, monitoring for unusual traffic to known malware infrastructure or exploit hosting sites can provide indirect signals. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools should flag unexpected code execution from the Chrome renderer process or unusual memory access patterns. Review browser history logs and security appliance records for access to suspicious or newly-registered domains that may host exploits.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits urgent attention due to the combination of high CVSS score (8.8), ease of exploitation (network-accessible, requires only user interaction), widespread affected user base (all Chrome users), and the attack vector (compromised or malicious websites). While currently not in public active exploitation, the simplicity of the attack surface and the low barrier to triggering the use-after-free make it likely to be weaponized. The sandbox mitigation reduces but does not eliminate risk, especially in multi-stage attack scenarios.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (HIGH) reflects the combination of remote network access, low attack complexity, no privilege requirements, and high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The sandbox environment introduces some containment, but the score correctly prioritizes the immediate threat posed by arbitrary code execution within a widely-used process. Organizations should treat this as a P0 priority patch.

Frequently asked questions