Chinese Hackers Exploit Chrome-Windows Zero-Day Chain to Deploy CLEANGULP Malware
Chinese actor UTA0565 chains three Chrome and Windows zero-days via fake NGO media sites to drop CLEANGULP backdoor malware on Asian government targets.
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CVE-2026-85046
Actively Exploited V8 Type Confusion in Google Chrome (CVE-2026-85046)
CISA: Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion Vulnerability
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 high
- EPSS
- 2%p79
- Published
- ·
- Added to KEV
AI analysisSummaries by Vani AI
Google Chrome versions prior to 152.0.7977.82 contain a type confusion flaw (CWE-843) in the V8 JavaScript engine, which mishandles object types during engine operations (public proof-of-concept writeups indicate it is reachable through array sorting and WebAssembly-related code paths). A remote attacker triggers the flaw simply by getting a user to open a crafted HTML page, with no privileges or authentication required. Successful exploitation lets the attacker execute arbitrary code inside the browser's sandbox, and public reporting shows it being chained with Windows zero-days (the 'BlueMoon' exploit kit) by Chinese espionage groups for broader compromise. Any user of an unpatched Chrome or another build embedding the affected V8 engine is exposed. The vulnerability is a zero-day that was actively exploited in the wild before patching, was added to CISA's KEV on 2026-09-04, and has five public proof-of-concept references.
What to do: Update Google Chrome to 152.0.7977.82 or later immediately, and apply the corresponding V8 fix in any Chromium-based browser in use. Federal agencies must apply mitigations in line with CISA BOD 26-04 and its cloud-services requirements, evaluating each asset's internet exposure. Because public reporting shows this flaw chained with Windows zero-days in 'BlueMoon' attacks, patch the related Windows vulnerabilities as well and hunt for signs of exploit-chain activity on high-exposure endpoints.
| Product | Affected |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | prior to 152.0.7977.82 |
| Google Chromium V8 | V8 engine versions bundled with Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.82 |
Estimated exposure
massmultiple billions of users/installs (Chrome is the dominant desktop browser at roughly 65% market share, with an estimated 3+ billion active users, plus… — Chrome's browser market share (~two-thirds of desktop usage) and multi-billion active-user base make this effectively universal exposure among desktop users, with additional exposure via other Chromium-derived browsers that embed the V8…
Order-of-magnitude estimate by the model from install counts, market share and public scan data it knows; verify before quoting.
Description · NVD
Type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.82 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
KEVCISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
- Affected
- Google Chromium V8
- Required action
- Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
- Due date
- Ransomware use
- Unknown
In the news
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CISA added the actively exploited Chromium V8 type confusion zero-day CVE-2026-85046 to its KEV catalog, urging patching of Chrome, Edge, and Opera.
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Google Releases Chrome Update to Patch Actively Exploited V8 Zero-Day
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Hackers Chain Chrome and Windows Zero-Days in New BlueMoon Exploit Kit Attacks
Multiple espionage actors, mostly China-nexus, are chaining Chrome V8 and Windows kernel zero-days (CVE-2026-85046, CVE-2026-85880) via the BlueMoon exploit kit against government and defense targets.
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Chinese APT Clones Legitimate Websites to Deliver Chrome and Windows Zero-Day Exploits
Volexity links third Chinese actor UTA0565 to typosquatted phishing sites chaining Chrome and Windows zero-days to deploy CLEANGULP backdoor.
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One Exploit Chain, Two Espionage Campaigns: Chrome and Windows Under Fire
Two China-linked APT groups reused identical Chrome/Windows zero-day chain against NGOs, deploying GRIMWIDGE backdoor and LONGTALE credential-stealing extension.
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China-Linked Hackers Exploit Chrome-Windows Zero-Day Chain to Deploy GRIMWEDGE
Volexity attributes spear-phishing campaign exploiting Chrome-Windows zero-day chain to Chinese actors UTA0560 and APT31 deploying GRIMWEDGE and LONGTALE.
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China-Linked Hackers Chain Chrome Zero-Day With Windows Kernel Flaw in Attacks
Volexity reports China-linked UTA0560 and JungleBamboo chained Chrome zero-day CVE-2026-85046 with kernel flaws to spy on NGOs.
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New 'BlueMoon' kit exploited Windows and Chrome zero-day flaws
Multiple China-linked espionage groups share the BlueMoon exploit kit chaining Chrome V8 zero-days and a Windows ALPC LPE to deploy backdoors.
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Four Nation-State Actors Used the Same Chrome Zero-Day Exploit Kit Within 12 Days
Proofpoint reports four nation-state actors, mostly China-nexus, adopted the BlueMoon Chrome and Windows zero-day exploit kit within 12 days, targeting US organizations.
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Novel Blue Moon kit targeting Chrome and Windows reflects new reality of AI-driven exploits
Proofpoint reports the BlueMoon exploit kit, chaining two Chrome V8 zero-days and a Windows ALPC bug, being shared across China-linked espionage groups.
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Chinese espionage groups swarm to exploit triple-link chain of zero-days
Four China-aligned espionage groups, starting with TA412/APT31, chained zero-days CVE-2026-85046, CVE-2026-87491 and CVE-2026-85880 to spy on targets since late August.
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Google fixes the seventh actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026
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Google patches actively exploited Chrome zero-day (CVE-2026-85046)
Google patches actively exploited Chrome zero-day CVE-2026-85046, a V8 type confusion bug enabling sandboxed code execution via crafted HTML pages.
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