External risk intelligence

Chrome Dawn Use After Free Sandbox Escape Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.6)

CVE-2026-14424

This vulnerability is located in the client-side browser application. While it requires a user to visit a crafted HTML page, the component itself is a desktop client software rather than a public-facing network service, appliance, or gateway, making it inherently unlikely to be an internet-exposed service.

Use After Free

Google Chrome

before 150.0.7871.46

Halo Surface Signal: 1 out of 5 — much less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A newly disclosed vulnerability in Google Chrome allows a remote attacker to potentially escape the browser's security sandbox via a specially crafted HTML page. While the impact requires user interaction, the ability to break out of the sandbox is a significant concern for client-side security. The main concern is confirming relevance and exposure.

Browser vulnerability allows unauthorized system access.
Sandbox escape threatens user data confidentiality.
Confirm if your users are exposed via browser.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by tricking a user into visiting a malicious webpage. If the user accesses the crafted HTML page, a flaw in the browser's handling of memory could be triggered, potentially allowing the attacker to escape the browser's security sandbox.

Requires user to visit a malicious page.
Use after free in Dawn component.
Sandbox escape leading to system compromise.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome on Mac could allow a remote attacker to escape the browser's sandbox. This occurs when a user visits a specially crafted HTML page, potentially leading to a compromise of the system beyond the browser's isolated environment.

Sandbox escape to affect system data.
Crafted HTML page via user interaction.
Unauthorized system access and control.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability affects Google Chrome on Mac, specifically a use-after-free flaw in the Dawn component that could lead to a sandbox escape. The first practical step is to identify all Mac systems running the affected Chrome version, confirm their exposure and criticality, and then coordinate with the responsible teams to plan remediation.

Chrome owners should prioritize this issue.
Verify Mac systems running affected Chrome.
Plan remediation based on exposure and criticality.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

Free EASM Trial See How Signal Works

Frequently asked questions

What is the Dawn component in Google Chrome?

Dawn is an open-source library integrated into Google Chrome that provides a cross-platform implementation of modern graphics APIs like WebGPU. It acts as a bridge between the browser and the computer's underlying graphics hardware. Because it handles complex rendering tasks, vulnerabilities here can sometimes affect how the browser interacts with system resources.

How does a use-after-free flaw work in CVE-2026-14424?

This vulnerability, classified as CWE-416, happens when the browser continues to use a pointer to a memory location after that memory has been cleared or freed. If a program tries to access this 'dangling' pointer, an attacker might be able to manipulate that memory space to execute unauthorized code. In this specific case, it allows an attacker to break out of the browser's sandbox environment.

Do I need to do anything if I don't visit untrusted websites?

The trigger path for this vulnerability specifically requires a user to visit a crafted HTML page. Simply running the browser while offline or only navigating to known, trusted sites does not immediately trigger the bug. However, because modern web browsing often involves hidden scripts or redirected content from various sources, limiting your browsing behavior is not a substitute for installing security updates.

Is my Mac at high risk from this vulnerability?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this vulnerability affects client-side browser software rather than a public-facing network service, making it inherently unlikely to be an internet-exposed service in the traditional sense. While the risk of a remote attack exists if a user is lured to a malicious page, your Mac is not automatically exposed to network-based attacks in the same way a server or gateway would be.

When should I update Chrome for CVE-2026-14424?

You should update your browser as soon as possible. Because this issue allows for a sandbox escape, it poses a risk to the confidentiality of your system data beyond just the browser application. To address this, identify all Mac systems in your environment running versions older than 150.0.7871.46 and ensure they are upgraded to the latest stable release.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.