Executive Summary

Google has released an emergency security update for its Chrome web browser, addressing five vulnerabilities, three of which are rated high-severity and could lead to remote code execution (RCE). The update is being rolled out for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android users. The most critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-12725, is an out-of-bounds write flaw in the WebGPU component that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code by tricking a user into visiting a malicious website. While Google is not aware of any active exploits for these vulnerabilities in the wild, the severity of the flaws necessitates immediate action. All Chrome users are strongly advised to update their browsers to the latest version to mitigate the risk of potential exploitation.

Vulnerability Details

The security update addresses a total of five vulnerabilities. The three high-severity flaws are:

• CVE-2025-12725 (CVSS 8.8): An out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Chrome's WebGPU implementation. A remote attacker could exploit this by crafting a malicious HTML page. Successful exploitation could lead to memory corruption, a browser crash, or arbitrary code execution in the context of the sandboxed renderer process.
• CVE-2025-12726 (CVSS 8.8): An inappropriate implementation vulnerability in the Views component, which is responsible for UI elements. This flaw could also be exploited for memory corruption and potential code execution.
• CVE-2025-12727 (CVSS 8.8): An inappropriate implementation in the V8 JavaScript and WebAssembly engine. Exploitation could lead to a sandbox escape when chained with other vulnerabilities.

Two medium-severity vulnerabilities were also patched:

• CVE-2025-12728 (CVSS 6.5): A flaw in the Omnibox address bar.
• CVE-2025-12729 (CVSS 6.5): Another flaw in the Omnibox address bar.

Affected Systems

• Google Chrome for Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux): Versions prior to 142.0.7444.134 and 142.0.7444.135.
• Google Chrome for Android: Versions prior to 142.0.7444.138.

Users can check their Chrome version by navigating to chrome://settings/help.

Exploitation Status

As of November 7, 2025, Google stated that it is not aware of any in-the-wild exploitation of these vulnerabilities. However, high-severity browser vulnerabilities, especially those leading to RCE, are prime targets for exploit developers and threat actors. The public disclosure of these flaws increases the likelihood of exploitation attempts in the near future.

Impact Assessment

The primary risk associated with these vulnerabilities is remote code execution. An attacker could host a malicious website and, upon a user visiting it, execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. While Chrome's sandbox provides a layer of protection, attackers often chain browser exploits with sandbox escape vulnerabilities to gain full control over the underlying operating system. A successful attack could lead to the installation of malware, ransomware, or spyware, resulting in data theft, financial loss, or complete system compromise.

Detection Methods

• Version Scanning: The most reliable method of detection is to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Google Chrome. Asset management systems and vulnerability scanners can be used to query for Chrome versions across the enterprise.
• Endpoint Monitoring: Monitor for unexpected crashes of the chrome.exe process or the spawning of suspicious child processes (e.g., powershell.exe, cmd.exe) from a Chrome process, which could indicate successful exploitation.

Remediation Steps

• Update Immediately (M1051 - Update Software): The only way to remediate these vulnerabilities is to update Google Chrome to the latest version. Chrome typically updates automatically, but users should manually trigger the update by going to Help > About Google Chrome to ensure it is applied promptly. This corresponds to D3FEND's D3-SU: Software Update.
• Restart the Browser: The update will not take full effect until the browser is restarted.
• Enterprise Patch Management: System administrators should use enterprise management tools to push the updated version of Chrome to all managed devices.