CVE-2026-5281
Published: 01 April 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-5281 is a high-severity Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability in Google Chrome. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked in the top 8.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2026-5281 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Dawn component of Google Chrome versions prior to 146.0.7680.178. The flaw, tracked under CWE-416, resides in the browser's graphics and rendering pipeline and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8.
An attacker who has already gained control of the renderer process can trigger the bug with a specially crafted HTML page, leading to arbitrary code execution within that process. Because the renderer is sandboxed, successful exploitation still requires an initial renderer compromise, typically delivered through a malicious web page.
Chrome stable channel updates released on 31 March 2026 address the issue by advancing the browser to version 146.0.7680.178 or later. The vulnerability appears in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming that in-the-wild exploitation has been observed.
EPSS for the CVE rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.0328 on 7 April 2026 before receding to the current value of 0.0092, indicating a temporary increase in exploitation interest shortly after public disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-17795
Vulnerability details
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)
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 01 April 2026
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome's renderer (Dawn WebGPU) exploited via crafted HTML webpage for arbitrary code execution with user interaction (visiting malicious page), directly enabling Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203) and Drive-by Compromise (T1189).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires timely application of the vendor patch that advances Chrome to 146.0.7680.178 and eliminates the use-after-free in Dawn.
Enforces memory-protection mechanisms that block use-after-free exploitation within the renderer process.
Strengthens process isolation and sandboxing of the renderer, limiting the impact of any successful Dawn UAF to arbitrary code execution inside that process only.