Google Patches Actively Exploited V8 Zero-Day in Chrome (CVE-2026-85046)
Google has distributed an urgent update for Chrome to fix CVE-2026-85046, a zero-day vulnerability in the V8 engine that is under active exploitation. Users must update to Chrome 152.0.7977.82 or later and restart the browser to apply the patch.
The vulnerability is a type confusion flaw in V8, the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine. It resides in the Maglev compiler and affects optimizations related to Array.prototype.sort. Certain inlining and specialization decisions can leave the engine in an inconsistent state, enabling attackers to build reliable exploitation chains that achieve arbitrary memory access within the JavaScript heap.
An attacker can trigger the flaw by serving a malicious HTML page, a technique commonly seen in malvertising, compromised sites, or phishing campaigns. The published CVSS score is 8.8, reflecting the requirement for user interaction.
Google fixed the issue in the stable desktop channel with versions 152.0.7977.82 and 152.0.7977.83 for Windows and macOS, and 152.0.7977.82 for Linux. The update also resolves 11 additional vulnerabilities, bringing the total to 12 fixes.
The researcher Salvatore Gulizia, operating under the handle Serotav, reported the bug on 4 August 2026 and received a $1,000 reward. Google continues its policy of limiting technical details until the majority of users have updated.
Administrators should accelerate patch deployment, verify installed versions, and prioritize high-exposure systems. Users of other Chromium-based browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, must apply updates from their respective vendors once available.
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