CVE-2026-8551 Use after free in Chrome

High 8.8 Published Updated

A remote attacker can execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML page exploiting a use-after-free flaw in Chrome's Downloads feature.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Not needed
Attackable
Over the internet
Victim action needed
A user has to click or open something
Fix
Available

What is CVE-2026-8551?

CVE-2026-8551 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Chrome, published on 14 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

Use after free in Downloads in Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.168 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI gestures to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-8551?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Chrome.

How do I fix CVE-2026-8551?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2026-8551 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-8551 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Google Chrome vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-8551, ECHO-41e5-09fa-5ba7, GHSA-v77q-jqj8-8vvq, MINI-gg42-4fh8-68cq.

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