CVE-2026-11249 Chrome Use-After-Free Information Disclosure Vulnerability

Technical summary

CVE-2026-11249 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Chrome's Network component. The flaw occurs when the renderer process references memory regions that have been deallocated, allowing an attacker with renderer compromise to leak sensitive process memory contents. The attack vector requires network access and user interaction (clicking a malicious page), but does not require special privileges. The vulnerability was assigned Chromium security severity 'Low' by the vendor, though the CVSS 3.1 score of 4.7 reflects moderate risk due to the information disclosure potential across security boundaries.

Business impact

Information disclosure is the primary risk. An attacker who has already compromised a user's renderer process gains the ability to exfiltrate potentially sensitive data from Chrome's memory—including session tokens, credentials fragments, or other runtime secrets. The attack does not lead to code execution or denial of service, but privacy and data confidentiality become concerns for users browsing untrusted or compromised sites. Organizations relying on Chrome as a primary browser should treat this as a data protection issue rather than a system stability threat.

Affected systems

Google Chrome prior to version 149.0.7827.53 is directly affected. The vulnerability also impacts Chrome on Apple macOS, Linux (Linux kernel), and Microsoft Windows—essentially all major Chrome platforms. Any user or organization using Chrome versions older than 149.0.7827.53 is at risk. Organizations should audit their Chrome deployment version numbers and update policies immediately.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires two preconditions: (1) a successful prior compromise of the Chrome renderer process, and (2) user interaction to open a crafted HTML page in an affected Chrome version. An attacker cannot remotely trigger this vulnerability without an existing foothold in the renderer sandbox. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C) indicates network accessibility and low attack complexity once the renderer is compromised, but the requirement for renderer compromise significantly limits opportunistic exploitation. This is not a wormable or mass-exploitation vulnerability in isolation.

Remediation

Update Google Chrome to version 149.0.7827.53 or later on all platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux). Chrome typically auto-updates when closed and restarted; verify that auto-update is enabled in browser settings (Settings > About Google Chrome) and allow the update cycle to complete. Organizations using enterprise Chrome deployment should push the patch through their mobile device management (MDM) or enterprise deployment tools to ensure coverage across all devices.

Patch guidance

For end users: Navigate to Chrome Settings > About Google Chrome; the browser will check for and download the latest version automatically. If already on the About page, Chrome typically begins updating immediately and will prompt restart. Verify the version number matches 149.0.7827.53 or higher after restart. For IT administrators: Deploy Chrome 149.0.7827.53+ via your organization's browser management system (Google Admin Console, Intune, or equivalent). Test the patch on a sample of machines before broad rollout to ensure no compatibility issues with internal web applications. Verify deployment success through your endpoint management console and audit Chrome version telemetry.

Detection guidance

Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) tools should monitor for exploitation attempts by flagging suspicious memory access patterns in chrome.exe/chromium processes, particularly following renderer compromises. Log access to Chrome crash dumps or memory analysis tools on user endpoints. Network teams can monitor for suspicious uploads of process memory or unusual data exfiltration from Chrome processes. Patch verification can be automated via endpoint discovery tools: scan all machines for Chrome versions prior to 149.0.7827.53 and flag non-compliant installations for remediation. Browser telemetry (if enabled) provides version reporting; cross-reference against your asset inventory.

Why prioritize this

Although the Chromium vendor severity is 'Low' and CVSS is 4.7 (Medium), this vulnerability should be treated as a moderate-priority patch for most organizations. The risk is primarily information disclosure rather than system compromise, but data sensitivity in memory—including authentication tokens and user data—makes timely remediation important. The requirement for prior renderer compromise somewhat limits the standalone threat, but organizations should still aim for deployment within 2-4 weeks. Prioritize endpoints where users browse high-risk content or handle sensitive data.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 4.7 reflects a Medium severity rating driven by: (1) Network-accessible attack vector (AV:N); (2) low attack complexity once renderer is compromised (AC:L); (3) low confidentiality impact—information disclosure from process memory (C:L); (4) no integrity or availability impact (I:N/A:N); (5) changed scope (S:C), indicating the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the security scope of the vulnerable component. The score does not account for the requirement of prior renderer compromise, which reduces real-world exploitability. In context, organizations should view this as a meaningful but non-critical patch—urgent for high-risk users, routine for standard deployments.

Frequently asked questions