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A use‑after‑free (UAF) vulnerability exists in the Ozone display system component of Google Chrome on Linux. Ozone acts as the abstraction layer between Chrome’s rendering engine and the underlying Linux graphics stack, handling windows, surfaces, and display operations. Because this component directly interacts with native graphics memory and system resources, any flaw in its memory management can have severe consequences.
The bug (CWE‑416) occurs when a dangling pointer continues to reference memory that has already been freed. During normal operation, Chrome allocates heap memory to store objects related to Ozone’s operations—for example, a surface handler for a web‑rendered HTML element. When that object’s lifetime ends, the memory is returned to the allocator. However, in versions prior to 149.0.7827.103, a race or improper reference counting leaves a pointer to the freed memory accessible.
A remote attacker can craft a malicious HTML page that triggers this condition. The page uses a series of API calls and event sequences that fool the reference‑counting mechanism, causing the object to be freed while a pointer to it is still reachable. When the browser later uses that pointer (e.g., to render another element or process a user gesture), it operates on freed heap memory, leading to heap corruption. The corruption can be used to overwrite function pointers or critical data structures, redirecting execution flow.
The attack is launched remotely: the victim only needs to visit the attacker‑controlled web page. No authentication is required, and the complexity is low. Chrome’s sandbox may be bypassed if the corrupted memory is in a part of the process that interacts directly with the operating system, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution outside the sandbox with the privileges of the logged‑in user. The vulnerability affects all Linux‑based Chrome installations using the Ozone backend before the fixed version. Chromium security severity is High, and the NIST NVD has assigned a CVSS 3.1 vector score of 8.8 (High). Chrome version 149.0.7827.103 eliminates the flaw by correcting the reference‑counting logic and removing the dangling pointer risk.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: ……. Linux
Version: …….. 149.0.7827.103
Vulnerability :…… Use After Free
Severity: ……. High (CVSS 8.8)
date: ………. 2026-06-08
Prediction: …… 2026-06-10
What Undercode Say:
Check current Chrome version google-chrome --version Identify installed Chrome packages on Debian/Ubuntu dpkg -l | grep chrome Query Chrome's update policy (Linux) gsettings get org.chromium.Chrome AutoUpdateEnabled Simulate the heap layout with a minimal HTML proof-of-concept cat > trigger.html << EOF <html> <body> <script> // Simplified reproduction steps (non-functional, for illustration) let ozoneSurface = new OzoneSurface(); ozoneSurface.create(); ozoneSurface.release(); // Trigger use of freed pointer ozoneSurface.render(); </script> </body> </html> EOF Check if the patch is present by analyzing the Chrome binary (example) strings /opt/google/chrome/chrome | grep -i "ozone.149.0.7827.103"
Exploit:
A remote attacker hosts a crafted HTML page that contains JavaScript and WebGL operations designed to repeatedly allocate and free Ozone‑backed display surfaces. After a controlled number of cycles, the page invokes a method on a freed surface object, causing the browser to dereference a dangling pointer. The attacker can then arrange the heap (e.g., via large JavaScript arrays or WebAssembly memory) so that the freed memory is overwritten with attacker‑controlled data, turning the UAF into a reliable code‑execution primitive. While no public exploit is available, the flaw is considered easy to exploit with moderate technical skill and an estimated underground market price of USD $5k–$25k.
Protection:
- Immediate update: Upgrade Chrome to version 149.0.7827.103 or later.
- Automated updates: Ensure Chrome’s auto‑update is enabled (
chrome://settings/help). - Reduced exposure: Temporarily block untrusted web content, disable WebGL if not needed, or use browser policies to restrict access to high‑risk sites until the update is applied.
- Sandbox enforcement: Linux users can run Chrome with extra sandboxing flags (e.g.,
--sandbox-for-unsafe-plugins).
Impact:
Successful exploitation leads to heap corruption that can result in arbitrary code execution within the browser process. This may allow an attacker to bypass the sandbox, access local files, install malware, steal credentials, or escalate privileges on the Linux system. The vulnerability affects all Linux distributions running an unpatched Chrome version; its remote, low‑complexity attack vector makes it a severe risk for both individual users and enterprise environments.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
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