Patchfirst
CVE-2026-5281 KEVPublic exploit High · 8.8 EPSS 13.7%

Google Dawn Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Google · Dawn

Summary

A use-after-free flaw in Google's Dawn graphics component, which is part of Google Chrome, lets code inside Dawn reuse memory after it has been released. An attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can exploit it through a crafted HTML page that a user visits, with no authentication required, to execute arbitrary code.

Official description · NVD

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)

Breakdown
73.5 / 100
Exploited
Yes, in CISA KEV
Reports
0
Tactics
2/15

How an attack unfolds

Based on mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.
  1. How attackers get in

  2. What they do

First seen exploited 1 day before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 1 day after disclosure.

  1. First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence1 day before
  2. DisclosedAdded to CISA KEVEU database agreesday 0
  3. Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+1 day

CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.

techniques

2 , grouped by in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2

Initial AccessTA0001

Drive-by Compromise T1189 Medium
AI mapping from the description · how it is exploited

Malicious web page delivers exploit to browser

via a crafted HTML page
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

ExecutionTA0002

Exploitation for Client Execution T1203 Medium
AI mapping from the description · primary impact

Code execution within the browser client process

execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML page
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Detection

0 rules for this CVE · 38 general rules for its techniques

Rules for this CVE

0 that reference CVE-2026-5281 directly.

CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗

General rules for this CVE’s techniques

These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.

Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.

What security researchers reported

Not named in any threat report yet

Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)

Weaker evidence

Pulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.

References

3 links, grouped by NVD tag
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