CVE-2026-5281
HighExploitedPublic exploitUse 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.
Published Apr 1, 2026 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-5281
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2026-5281 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Chrome (Google), Edge Chromium (Microsoft), qt6-qtwebengine (alpine) and 2 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Mar 31, 2026. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 0.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Chrome 146.0.7680.178, Chrome 146.0.7680.177, chromedriver 146.0.7680.177-1.1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
8.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
0.7%
Higher than 52.3% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2026-5281 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
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)
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Apr 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2026 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Mar 31, 2026 | Apr 15, 2026 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Apr 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2026 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Apr 1, 2026 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected Products
25 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ChromeGoogle | >= 146.0.7680.178 | 146.0.7680.177 |
| Edge ChromiumMicrosoft | See advisory | n/a |
| qt6-qtwebenginealpine | See advisory | 6.10.1-r14 |
| chromiumchainguard | See advisory | 146.0.7680.177-r0 |
| chromedriversuse | See advisory | 146.0.7680.177-bp160.1.1 |
Patched Releases
Chrome
146.0.7680.178, 146.0.7680.177
chromedriver
146.0.7680.177-1.1, 146.0.7680.177-bp160.1.1
chromium
146.0.7680.177-1, 146.0.7680.177-1.1, 146.0.7680.177-1~deb12u1, 146.0.7680.177-1~deb13u1, 146.0.7680.177-bp160.1.1, 146.0.7680.177-r0, 147.0.7727.116-r0, 148.0.7778.165-1.ph5
qt6-qtwebengine
6.10.1-r14, 6.10.2-r13, 6.11.0-r1
Timeline
Added to Industry KEV feed
Mar 31, 2026
Publicly disclosed
Apr 1, 2026
Added to CISA KEV
Apr 1, 2026
Added to CIRCL KEV
Apr 1, 2026
Added to ENISA EUVD
Apr 1, 2026
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-416 Use After Free
- CWE-825 Expired Pointer Dereference
References
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-5281
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- otherVulnCheck exploitation report
- otherhttps://issues.chromium.org/issues/491518608
FAQ
Common Questions.
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.
Affected: Chrome (Google) versions >= 146.0.7680.178; Edge Chromium (Microsoft); qt6-qtwebengine (alpine), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Mar 31, 2026.
Yes. It was added on Apr 1, 2026 with a federal remediation due date of Apr 15, 2026.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Chrome 146.0.7680.178, Chrome 146.0.7680.177, chromedriver 146.0.7680.177-1.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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