CVE-2026-7984

Description

Use after free in ReadingMode in Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)

CVSS Details

CVSS Score

8.8

Severity

HIGH

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Configurations (Affected Products)

cpe:2.3:a:google:chrome:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* - VULNERABLE

cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* - NOT VULNERABLE

cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* - NOT VULNERABLE

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* - NOT VULNERABLE

Google Chrome < 148.0.7778.96

PoC / Exploit Code

⚠ For Security Research Only

The following code is for security research and authorized testing only.

python

<!--
PoC Concept for CVE-2026-7984 (Use After Free in ReadingMode)
This is a simplified representation of how such a vulnerability might be triggered.
-->
<html>
<head>
<script>
// Trigger ReadingMode interaction (Simulated)
function trigger_uaf() {
    // Create elements that interact with ReadingMode
    let obj = document.createElement('div');
    // Force ReadingMode logic (Hypothetical API or content structure)
    obj.innerHTML = '<article>Some long content to trigger reading mode...</article>';
    document.body.appendChild(obj);

    // Step 1: Reference the object
    let ref = obj.someProperty;

    // Step 2: Trigger Free (Garbage Collection or specific DOM removal)
    document.body.removeChild(obj);
    // Force GC if possible (implementation dependent)
    if (window.gc) window.gc();

    // Step 3: Use After Free
    // Accessing 'ref' or 'obj' after free triggers the vulnerability
    try {
        console.log(ref.toString()); // Crash or Exploit
    } catch(e) {
        console.log('Exploit attempt failed');
    }
}

window.onload = trigger_uaf;
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>CVE-2026-7984 PoC Test</p>
</body>
</html>

References

[1] CVE.org https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-7984
[2] NVD NIST https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-7984
[3] CVE Details https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2026-7984/
[4] VulDB https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-7984
[5] https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
[6] https://issues.chromium.org/issues/498277368

Raw JSON Data

JSON

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-7984", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-05-06T19:16:49.280", "lastModified": "2026-05-06T23:21:35.400", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "Use after free in ReadingMode in Google Chrome prior to 148.0.7778.96 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)"}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "baseScore": 8.8, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "REQUIRED", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"}, "exploitabilityScore": 2.8, "impactScore": 5.9}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-416"}]}], "configurations": [{"operator": "AND", "nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:google:chrome:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "148.0.7778.96", "matchCriteriaId": "5E9416A8-4333-4195-983C-78F521AF6245"}]}, {"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": false, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "387021A0-AF36-463C-A605-32EA7DAC172E"}, {"vulnerable": false, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "703AF700-7A70-47E2-BC3A-7FD03B3CA9C1"}, {"vulnerable": false, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "A2572D17-1DE6-457B-99CC-64AFD54487EA"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/498277368", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Issue Tracking", "Permissions Required"]}]}}