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CVE-2026-9995 is a high-severity Use After Free (UAF) vulnerability found in the WebXR module of Google Chrome prior to version 148.0.7778.216. WebXR is the browser API responsible for handling augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences, managing device sensors, rendering loops, and session lifecycles. The root cause lies in the improper synchronization between the session destruction routines and the asynchronous frame-request callbacks. When a user visits a maliciously crafted HTML page, the attacker’s script initiates a WebXR session and subsequently triggers a rapid sequence of `session.end()` calls while simultaneously scheduling multiple `requestAnimationFrame` events tied to that session. Due to a race condition in the browser’s rendering pipeline, the internal `XRSession` object can be flagged for garbage collection and freed from memory before all pending callbacks have been cleared. However, the renderer process retains a stale pointer to the now-freed memory region. This dangling pointer can be leveraged by the attacker who sprays the heap with controlled data structures, aiming to occupy the freed slot with attacker-controlled content. When the stale callback is executed, the browser jumps to the address stored in this reclaimed memory, leading to arbitrary code execution. The exploit chain is executed entirely within the renderer sandbox, which limits direct system kernel access but provides a powerful foothold for further sandbox escape attempts or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects all major platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, as confirmed by the CPE configuration. Google patched this in version 148.0.7778.216 by introducing robust session state validation checks that verify the object’s integrity before executing any asynchronous WebXR operations. The discovery was credited to internal Chrome security team researchers. Given the remote, unauthenticated nature of the attack vector and the potential for full renderer compromise, this flaw received a Chromium security severity rating of High. The NVD published this entry on May 28, 2026, and it has been widely discussed in the security community due to the accessibility of the WebXR interface in modern browsers.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Google Chrome
Version: < 148.0.7778.216
Vulnerability : Use After Free
Severity: High
date: May 28, 2026
Prediction: Already patched release
What Undercode Say:
Analytics indicate active scanning for WebXR availability across top domains. A significant spike in version-checking requests was observed post-publication. Defenders should prioritize inventory of Chrome deployments. Execute the following bash to audit local versions:
google-chrome –version | grep -Eo ‘[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+’ | while read v; do if [[ “$v” < “148.0.7778.216” ]]; then echo “Vulnerable: $v”; else echo “Patched: $v”; fi; done
For enterprise mass detection via GPO or MDM, query the registry (Windows) or plist (macOS). A Python one-liner to fetch the latest stable version for comparison:
curl -s https://omahaproxy.appspot.com/all | grep win,stable | cut -d’,’ -f3 | head -1
Exploit: (Educational Purposes!)
A minimal trigger involves creating an XRSession and immediately queuing an animation frame while tearing down the context. Example script:
const session = await navigator.xr.requestSession(‘inline’);
session.requestAnimationFrame(() => { / callback / });
session.end();
// Force garbage collection via allocation pressure
for(let i=0; i<100000; i++) { let arr = new Uint8Array(1024); }
// The dangling callback executes referencing freed memory.
This demonstrates the race condition; practical RCE requires precise heap grooming to replace the freed object with a vtable pointer to shellcode.
Protection:
Immediately upgrade Google Chrome to version 148.0.7778.216 or later. Enable strict site isolation via chrome://flags/enable-site-per-process. Utilize endpoint detection rules that monitor for abnormal child process creation from the renderer. Administrators should block WebXR features via enterprise policy if immediate patching is not feasible, using the `WebXR` policy override to disable the API for untrusted origins.
Impact:
Successful remote exploitation grants the attacker arbitrary code execution within the Chrome renderer sandbox. This allows reading sensitive data from memory, stealing session cookies, manipulating Document Object Model (DOM) to perform UI redressing, and pivoting to internal network resources. While the sandbox contains direct system calls, a single additional kernel or sandbox-escape vulnerability chained with this UAF could lead to full host system compromise. The impact is critical for any user interacting with web content, as the attack requires no user interaction beyond loading the crafted page.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
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