Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious webpage could exploit a memory-safety flaw in older Chrome desktop versions and run code outside Chrome’s sandbox. Because browsing alone provides the required user interaction and successful exploitation could compromise data, systems, and availability, affected installations require urgent updating.
Executive priority
Treat this as an urgent browser remediation because compromise could extend beyond Chrome’s sandbox without prior attacker access. Accelerate enterprise-wide updates and verify completion, while avoiding claims of an active campaign without supporting evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2026-79290 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Chrome’s Aura component. Chrome versions before 152.0.7977.65 could permit remote code execution outside the sandbox through crafted HTML. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 9.6, with no privileges required but user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Exposure includes desktop Chrome installations running versions earlier than 152.0.7977.65, particularly where users browse untrusted or attacker-controlled content. The source bundle does not quantify deployment prevalence or identify other Chromium-based products as affected.
Exploitation context
The supplied sources describe remote exploitation through a crafted HTML page. However, the bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation, public proof-of-concept availability, or observed attacks.
Researcher notes
The CVE record identifies Aura and crafted HTML but supplies no detailed triggering conditions. The affected-data entry lists 152.0.7977.65, while the description says versions prior to it are vulnerable; validation should follow Google’s release notice. Do not infer impact to other Chromium browsers without vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Update Chrome desktop to version 152.0.7977.65 or later.
- Prioritize browsers handling untrusted web content or sensitive business data.
- Use enterprise browser management to accelerate deployment and enforce minimum versions.
- Consult Google’s release guidance for any platform-specific requirements.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Chrome desktop versions across managed and unmanaged endpoints.
- Confirm no installation remains below version 152.0.7977.65.
- Verify update policies are enforced and reporting successful installations.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious browser-originated processes or sandbox escapes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-79290 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H2.86CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.6CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/08/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_0256176589.htmlCVE reference, Chrome
- https://issues.chromium.org/issues/516427761CVE reference, Chrome
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.