Google Chrome CVE-2026-7976

Successful exploitation requires the victim to manually install a malicious Chrome extension, which necessitates either disabling Chrome Web Store protections, enabling developer mode for sideloaded extensions, or the attacker successfully submitting a malicious extension to the Chrome Web Store that evades automated and manual review. The extension must be granted sufficient API permissions to interact with the Views component, which may trigger user permission prompts depending on the requested capabilities. Attack complexity is rated high (AC:H) because the exploit must reliably trigger the use-after-free condition through extension APIs while overcoming Chrome's sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms. User interaction (UI:R) is mandatory and cannot be bypassed. Exploitation is NOT possible against users who have disabled extension installation via enterprise policy or who rigorously verify extension authenticity. The vulnerability affects default Chrome configurations once the extension installation hurdle is cleared, but Chrome's extension permission model and Web Store vetting provide substantial preventive barriers against mass exploitation.

Real-world risk assessment reveals moderate-to-high severity with important mitigating factors. CVSS 7.5 reflects the technical severity (high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact), but the AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R vector reveals critical constraints: high attack complexity and mandatory user interaction significantly reduce exploitation likelihood compared to one-click remote exploits. The requirement for users to install a malicious extension adds a substantial social engineering barrier, as Chrome Web Store vetting processes and user awareness training provide defensive layers. No EPSS score provided, but absence from CISA KEV and lack of public POC suggest this is not currently being exploited at scale. However, extension-based attacks have proven viable in targeted campaigns against high-value users who can be convinced to install developer-mode or sideloaded extensions. The RCE and memory corruption tags indicate full system compromise potential once the extension is installed. Priority should be elevated for organizations with users who regularly install extensions or have developer privileges enabled. The vendor-confirmed patch in Chrome 148.0.7778.96 provides definitive remediation, making this primarily a patch management concern rather than a sustained exposure risk.

An attacker creates a malicious Chrome extension disguised as a legitimate productivity tool, developer utility, or browser enhancement and distributes it through third-party websites, phishing campaigns, or compromised software bundles. The attacker convinces a target user to install the extension by offering appealing functionality or exploiting trust relationships. Once installed, the extension leverages elevated Chrome API permissions to trigger the use-after-free condition in the Views component through crafted API calls, corrupting memory to achieve arbitrary code execution within the Chrome process security context. The attacker can then access all browser data including credentials, session tokens, and browsing history, or use Chrome as a beachhead for further system compromise. No public proof-of-concept exists, but the technical approach is well-understood among exploit developers familiar with Chrome extension architecture.