Detect CVE-2026-5281 — Google Dawn Use-After-Free Exploitation in Splunk
Detects exploitation of CVE-2026-5281, a use-after-free vulnerability in Google Dawn (the WebGPU implementation used by Chrome). Exploitation may result in renderer compromise, sandbox escape, or arbitrary code execution via a malicious web page. This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
MITRE ATT&CK
SPL Detection Query
index=endpoint sourcetype=crowdstrike:events:sensor OR sourcetype=windows:sysmon:xml
| where process_name="chrome.exe" OR ImagePath LIKE "%chrome.exe"
| eval is_renderer=if(like(CommandLine, "%--renderer%") OR like(CommandLine, "%--gpu-process%") OR like(CommandLine, "%--utility%"), 1, 0)
| where is_renderer=1
| join type=left process_id [
search index=endpoint sourcetype=crowdstrike:events:sensor event_simpleName IN ("InjectionCreateRemoteThread", "MemoryProtectionFaultEvent", "ExploitDetected")
| rename ContextProcessId as process_id
| table process_id, event_simpleName, TargetProcessId
]
| eval exploit_indicator=if(isnotnull(event_simpleName), "Possible UAF exploit attempt in Dawn/WebGPU renderer", null)
| where isnotnull(exploit_indicator)
| stats count by _time, host, UserName, CommandLine, event_simpleName, exploit_indicator
| sort -_timeDetects Chrome renderer subprocess memory exploitation events (CFG violations, injection, memory faults) consistent with CVE-2026-5281 Dawn use-after-free via CrowdStrike and Sysmon telemetry.
Data Sources
Required Sourcetypes
False Positives & Tuning
- Security tools with deep Chrome integration may inject into renderer processes legitimately
- Corporate endpoint management software may trigger memory events in Chrome
- Automated browser testing frameworks (Selenium, Playwright) running on endpoints
Other platforms for CVE-2026-5281
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate Chrome Renderer Spawning Unexpected Child Process (Post-Exploitation Proxy)
Expected signal: EDR process tree shows cmd.exe spawned as child of chrome.exe with --renderer flag; ProcessRollup2 event with atypical ChildFileName
- Test 2Trigger Chrome WebGPU Memory Fault via Malformed Shader (Lab)
Expected signal: Chrome crash report written to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Crashpad\reports\; GPU process exit event in Windows Application log
- Test 3Detect Outdated Chrome Version via Endpoint Inventory Query
Expected signal: PowerShell script block logging (Event ID 4104) records version enumeration; file access telemetry on chrome.exe from EDR
- Test 4Simulate CFG Violation in Chrome GPU Process (Windows CFG Test)
Expected signal: Windows Defender ATP generates ExploitGuardControlFlowGuardViolated event for chrome.exe; CFG violation logged in Windows Security event log
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