CVE-2026-2441: Google Patches Chrome Zero-Day Exploited in the Wild

Right after Apple’s CVE-2026-20700 zero-day under active exploitation made headlines, Google released security updates for Chrome to address the first actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026.

CVE-2026-2441 Analysis

The high-severity flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-2441, is a use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome’s CSS component. NIST’s NVD description notes that the issue could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. In fact, a user only needs to land on a maliciously-crafted page for the attacker to trigger the bug and run code within the browser’s sandboxed environment.

Zero-day exploitation is rising. In 2024, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group reported 75 zero-days exploited in real attacks, and by 2025 exploits were still the top initial access method, accounting for 33% of intrusion paths. In that context, browser vulnerabilities remain a persistent threat for defenders. Browsers are everywhere, they continuously handle untrusted web content, and the trigger can be as simple as a user opening a link.

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CVE-2026-2441 Mitigation

Google’s advisory notes that a fix for CVE-2026-2441 was delivered in the Stable channel update released on February 13, 2026. The patched builds are Chrome 145.0.7632.75/76 for Windows and macOS and 144.0.7559.75 for Linux, with rollout expected over the following days and weeks.

Google has shared very little technical detail, but it has confirmed it is aware of in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2026-2441. Security researcher Shaheen Fazim has been credited with discovering and reporting the issue on February 11, 2026.

Users are advised to update Chrome to the fixed build on every endpoint and make sure the browser is restarted so the patched version is actually running. Additionally, by leveraging SOC Prime’s AI-Native Detection Intelligence Platform backed by top cyber defense expertise, global organizations can adopt a resilient security posture and transform their SOC to always stay ahead of emerging threats.