Type Vulnerability
Google Dawn contains an use-after-free vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML page.
Google · Memory corruption
Google Dawn Use-After-Free Vulnerability
CVE-2026-5281
What this means
This is rated high severity (8.8 out of 10). It is on the known-exploited catalogue, which means attacks using it have already been seen. Ask IT whether Google Chrome, Apple Macos and Linux Linux Kernel, and 1 more are in your estate, and treat that as the priority.
Full vendor description
Use after free in Dawn in Google Chrome prior to 146.0.7680.178 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
Scoring and exploitation
8.8/ 10
CVSS 3.1 base scoreHigh
Exploitable over the network without any account, but only if a user takes an action, such as opening a file or link. High impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploitability
Longer bar: easier to attack
Attack vectorNetworkAV:N
Attack complexityLowAC:L
Privileges requiredNonePR:N
User interactionRequiredUI:R
ScopeUnchangedS:U
Impact
Longer bar: more harm
ConfidentialityHighC:H
IntegrityHighI:H
AvailabilityHighA:H
- Elevated attack likelihood (~13.7% in 30 days)Model estimate (): a probability signal, not confirmed exploitation
- Exploited in the wild
- Yes — confirmed exploitation (US CISA )
- Not reported
- Listed product
- Google Dawn
Weaknesses
CWE-416
Affected products ()
- Google Chrome
- Apple Macos
- Linux Linux Kernel
- Microsoft Windows
Show the raw CPE strings (4)
- cpe:2.3:a:google:chrome:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
References
3 links from the CVE record, grouped by site; the vendor's advisory comes first.
chromereleases.googleblog.com1 linkVendor advisory
issues.chromium.org1 link
- 491518608 (opens in a new tab)Issue Tracking · Permissions Required
cisa.gov1 link
- known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog (opens in a new tab)US Government Resource