CVE-2026-13785: Chrome macOS Sandbox Escape via Bluetooth — Detection and Patching Guide

---
title: Chrome macOS Spawning Shell - Potential Sandbox Escape
id: 8a4c2b1d-9e3f-4a7c-8b0d-1a2b3c4d5e6f
status: experimental
description: Detects Google Chrome on macOS spawning a shell process (bash/zsh), which is indicative of a successful sandbox escape or payload execution.
references:
  - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-13785
author: Security Arsenal
date: 2026/10/15
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.004
  - cve.2026.13785
logsource:
  product: macos
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: '/Google Chrome'
    Image|endswith:
      - '/bash'
      - '/zsh'
      - '/sh'
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate developer debugging (rare)
level: critical
---
title: Chrome macOS Spawning Network Tools
id: 9b5d3c2e-0f4a-5b8d-9c1e-2b3c4d5e6f70
status: experimental
description: Detects Google Chrome on macOS spawning network utilities like curl or nc, often used post-exploitation for data exfiltration or C2 communication.
references:
  - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-13785
author: Security Arsenal
date: 2026/10/15
tags:
  - attack.exfiltration
  - attack.t1071.001
  - cve.2026.13785
logsource:
  product: macos
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: '/Google Chrome'
    Image|endswith:
      - '/curl'
      - '/nc'
      - '/telnet'
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Low
level: high

// Hunt for Chrome spawning unauthorized child processes on macOS
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where DeviceOS == "MacOS"
| where InitiatingProcessFileName == "Google Chrome"
| where FileName in ("bash", "zsh", "sh", "curl", "nc", "python", "python3", "osascript")
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, AccountName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine, FileName, ProcessCommandLine
| order by Timestamp desc

-- Hunt for Chrome version and suspicious process spawns
SELECT 
  OSInfo.BrowserVersion AS ChromeVersion,
  Pid, 
  Name, 
  CommandLine, 
  Exe, 
  Username
FROM pslist()
WHERE Name =~ "Google Chrome"
  AND parse_string(data=OSInfo.BrowserVersion, regex="(?P<Version>\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+)").Version < "150.0.7871.47"

-- Hunt for suspicious child processes (requires elevated permissions)
SELECT 
  Parent.Pid AS ParentPid,
  Parent.Name AS ParentName,
  Pid,
  Name,
  CommandLine
FROM chain(parent=pslist(), child=pslist())
WHERE Parent.Name =~ "Google Chrome"
  AND Name =~ "(bash|zsh|sh|curl|nc)"

#!/bin/bash
# Remediation Script for CVE-2026-13785
# Checks for vulnerable Chrome versions on macOS and triggers update.

TARGET_VERSION="150.0.7871.47"
CHROME_APP="/Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome"
LOG_FILE="/var/log/chrome_cve_2026_13785_remediation.log"

echo "Starting check for CVE-2026-13785" >> "$LOG_FILE"

if [ ! -f "$CHROME_APP" ]; then
    echo "Google Chrome not found at standard path." >> "$LOG_FILE"
    exit 1
fi

# Extract version string
INSTALLED_VERSION=$("$CHROME_APP" --version | awk '{print $3}')
echo "Detected Chrome Version: $INSTALLED_VERSION" >> "$LOG_FILE"

# Function to compare versions (assumes standard Semantic Versioning)
# Returns 0 if installed >= target, 1 if installed < target
check_version() {
    if [ "$1" = "$2" ]; then
        return 0
    fi
    local IFS=.
    local i ver1=($1) ver2=($2)
    for ((i=${#ver1[@]}; i<${#ver2[@]}; i++)); do ver1[i]=0; done
    for ((i=0; i<${#ver1[@]}; i++)); do
        if [[ -z ${ver2[i]} ]]; then ver2[i]=0; fi
        if ((10#${ver1[i]} > 10#${ver2[i]})); then
            return 0
        fi
        if ((10#${ver1[i]} < 10#${ver2[i]})); then
            return 1
        fi
    done
    return 0
}

if check_version "$INSTALLED_VERSION" "$TARGET_VERSION"; then
    echo "Chrome version $INSTALLED_VERSION is patched." >> "$LOG_FILE"
else
    echo "VULNERABLE: Chrome version $INSTALLED_VERSION is less than $TARGET_VERSION." >> "$LOG_FILE"
    echo "Attempting to trigger update..." >> "$LOG_FILE"
    
    # Trigger Chrome update mechanism (requires user to be logged in or restart)
    # Note: Updates usually happen automatically, but we can force a check logic here
    # In a managed environment, your MDM should push the latest .dmg or pkg.
    
    echo "CRITICAL: Update Google Chrome immediately to mitigate CVE-2026-13785." >> "$LOG_FILE"
    exit 2
fi

Update Google Chrome to **version 150.0.7871.47** or later immediately. Chrome auto-updates, but users often delay restarting the browser. Verify the patch status via your MDM reporting.