External risk intelligence

Chrome for Android GPU Use After Free Sandbox Escape

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.6)

CVE-2026-16424

This vulnerability exists within the renderer process of a client-side web browser. It requires the user to be lured to a crafted HTML page, making it a client-side attack vector rather than a public-internet-facing service or infrastructure component that is reachable by default.

Use After Free

Google Chrome

before 150.0.7871.182

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 use-after-free vulnerability in the GPU component of Google Chrome on Android could allow a remote attacker to escape the browser's sandbox and potentially impact the device. This issue requires a user to visit a malicious webpage to be exploited.

  • A flaw in Chrome's graphics handling.
  • It could allow attackers to break out of browser protections.
  • Confirm relevance and exposure to Android Chrome users.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could lure a user to a malicious website that exploits a use-after-free flaw in Chrome's graphics processing. This flaw, if triggered, could allow an attacker who already has control within the browser's rendering process to break out of the browser's security sandbox.

  • Requires user interaction with a malicious page.
  • Vulnerability triggered by crafted HTML.
  • Can lead to sandbox escape.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome's GPU component on Android, when present, could allow a malicious actor to escape the browser's sandbox. This scenario requires an attacker to first compromise the renderer process and then trick a user into visiting a specially crafted HTML page. If successful, this could potentially lead to unauthorized access to system resources beyond the browser's intended limitations.

  • System data and user data.
  • Visiting a malicious HTML page.
  • Sandbox escape and unauthorized access.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The identified vulnerability in Google Chrome on Android, a client-side application, requires specific user interaction with a malicious HTML page. This means that the immediate first step is to identify which users or devices may be exposed to such an attack. Ownership likely falls to mobile application teams or endpoint security, with initial actions focused on understanding exposure and mitigating risk through user guidance or targeted updates.

  • Mobile application teams own this issue.
  • Verify user exposure to malicious sites.
  • Plan targeted user communication and updates.

Supplementary metadata

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is Google Chrome on Android?

Google Chrome is a web browser used for navigating the internet, and on Android, it serves as the primary application for rendering websites. The GPU component within Chrome is responsible for offloading complex graphics tasks to the device's hardware, ensuring smooth performance when viewing media or interactive web content.

What does CVE-2026-16424 mean by a use-after-free weakness?

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416, which occurs when a program continues to use a pointer to memory after that memory has been cleared or freed. In this context, the GPU component fails to manage memory correctly, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate the browser's internal state.

How is this vulnerability triggered?

An attacker must lure a user to visit a specially crafted HTML page designed to exploit the memory error. Simply browsing standard, reputable websites does not trigger this flaw. The attack requires the user to interact with malicious content that forces the renderer process to encounter the use-after-free condition.

Is my device at risk according to Halo Surface Signal?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that exploitation is very unlikely because this is a client-side vulnerability. It resides in the browser's renderer process and is not an internet-facing service or infrastructure component that can be scanned for or reached directly by remote attackers without user interaction.

Do I need to update my browser to address this?

Yes. Since this vulnerability affects the browser's sandbox protections, ensure your Chrome application is updated to the version specified by Google. Mobile application teams or IT departments managing device fleets should prioritize verifying that users have received the latest security updates to patch the GPU component.

References