High severity · published Apr 1, 2026
CVE-2026-5281
Google Dawn Use-After-Free Vulnerability
In wildKEV
8.8
CVSS
13.5%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
Description
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)
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)13.5% · higher than 96% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed Apr 1, 2026
Federal remediation dueApr 15, 2026
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
CH
Chrome · Google
146.0.7680.178 before 146.0.7680.178 · source: vendor, NVD
DA
Dawn · Google
All versions, or not specified · source: KEV
In the news
VulnerabilityHigh
U.S. CISA adds a flaw in Google Dawn to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) adds a flaw in Google Dawn to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added a flaw in Google Dawn, tracked as CVE-2026-5281 (CVSS score of 8.8), to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. The flaw is a use after free in the Dawn […]
Apr 1, 2026·Security Affairs
VulnerabilityCritical
Google fixes fourth actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026
Google fixed a new Chrome zero-day, tracked as CVE-2026-5281, in the WebGPU Dawn component that is already exploited in the wild. Google released Chrome updates fixing 21 vulnerabilities, including a new actively exploited zero-day tracked as CVE-2026-5281. The flaw is a use-after-free bug in Dawn, the WebGPU component used for graphics processing. Due to ongoing […]
Apr 1, 2026·Security Affairs
VulnerabilityCritical
CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog
CISA has added one new vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog , based on evidence of active exploitation. CVE-2026-5281 Google Dawn Use-After-Free Vulnerability This type of vulnerability is a frequent attack vector for malicious cyber actors and poses significant risks to the federal enterprise. Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the KEV Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information. Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of KEV Catalog vulnerabilities as part of their vulnerability management practice. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that meet the specified criteria . 
Apr 1, 2026·CISA Advisories
VulnerabilityCritical
Google fixes Chrome zero-day with in-the-wild exploit (CVE-2026-5281)
Google has fixed 21 vulnerabilities affecting its popular Chrome browser, among them a zero-day (CVE-2026-5281) with an in-the-wild exploit. About CVE-2026-5281 As per usual, information about the fixed zero-day is limited, and there’s no details about the exploit (or how/if it’s being used by attackers). CVE-2026-5281’s official description says it’s a use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in Dawn, an open-source and cross-platform implementation of the WebGPU standard that’s used in Chromium and Chromium-based browsers. The vulnerability affects … More → The post Google fixes Chrome zero-day with in-the-wild exploit (CVE-2026-5281) appeared first on Help Net Security .
Apr 1, 2026·Help Net Security
VulnerabilityHigh
[CISA KEV] CVE-2026-5281: Google Dawn - Google Dawn Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Google Dawn contains an use-after-free vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML page. This vulnerability could affect multiple Chromium-based products including, but not limited to, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.
Apr 1, 2026·CISA KEV
Affected product
CH
Chrome
Google
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