Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious webpage could exploit a memory-safety flaw in Chrome DevTools and run code outside Chrome’s sandbox. Successful exploitation requires a user to open crafted HTML, but needs no privileges and could seriously compromise the endpoint.
Executive priority
Treat this as an expedited browser patching event because successful exploitation could escape Chrome’s sandbox and fully affect an endpoint. Prioritize rapid fleet-wide updating and verification, while avoiding claims of an active campaign without further evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2026-85042 is a DevTools use-after-free vulnerability, classified as CWE-416. Chrome versions before 152.0.7977.82 are affected. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 9.6, reflecting network reachability, low complexity, user interaction, sandbox escape, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure centers on desktop endpoints running Chrome earlier than 152.0.7977.82, especially where users browse untrusted content. The bundle does not identify affected operating systems, whether DevTools must be open, or whether Chromium-derived browsers are affected.
Exploitation context
A remote attacker must induce a user to load crafted HTML. The supplied record says this can enable arbitrary code execution outside the sandbox. No active exploitation is established: the bundle marks KEV false and provides no cited evidence of attacks in the wild.
Researcher notes
The technical evidence is limited to a DevTools use-after-free, crafted-HTML delivery, and sandbox-escaping code execution. Chromium rates it High, while the supplied CVSS is Critical at 9.6. The bundle provides no root-cause detail, exploit reliability assessment, prerequisites beyond user interaction, or confirmed exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Update Google Chrome to version 152.0.7977.82 or later.
- Prioritize internet-facing user workstations and other endpoints handling untrusted web content.
- Use enterprise browser management to accelerate deployment and identify update failures.
- Check current Google and Chromium guidance for any additional mitigations or scope changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Chrome versions and flag anything earlier than 152.0.7977.82.
- Confirm updated browsers report version 152.0.7977.82 or later after restart.
- Verify managed update policies successfully reached all targeted endpoints.
- Review vendor advisories for revised affected-version or exploitation information.
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-2026-85042 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/2026/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_01882797386.htmlCVE reference, Chrome
- https://issues.chromium.org/issues/553119925CVE 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.