CVE-2025-0437 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 01/15/2025
Out of bounds read in Metrics in Google Chrome prior to 132.0.6834.83 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in Google Chrome's metrics collection subsystem that existed prior to version 132.0.6834.83. The issue manifests within the browser's internal handling of performance and usage metrics, where improper bounds checking allows an attacker to manipulate memory access patterns that could lead to heap corruption. Such vulnerabilities fall under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking in input validation processes. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious HTML pages that, when rendered by the vulnerable browser, trigger memory access violations that can potentially be exploited for remote code execution or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's metrics collection mechanism failing to properly validate array indices or memory offsets when processing certain performance data structures. When a crafted HTML page triggers the metrics collection process, the flawed bounds checking allows memory reads beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This particular issue demonstrates the complexity of modern browser security architectures where legitimate performance monitoring features can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent. The Chromium security team classified this as High severity due to the potential for remote exploitation through web-based attacks, which aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203 for exploitation for persistence and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it represents a significant risk to user security and system integrity. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise or data exfiltration. The heap corruption aspect suggests that successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate browser memory structures, potentially enabling privilege escalation or bypass of security mechanisms. Users running vulnerable versions of Chrome face substantial risk when visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links, as the attack vector requires no user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 132.0.6834.83 or later, which contains the necessary bounds checking improvements. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to reduce exposure to malicious content. Browser hardening techniques including sandboxing and strict memory protection mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, particularly looking for unusual memory access patterns or heap manipulation activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of continuous security monitoring and rapid patch deployment in maintaining browser security posture against sophisticated remote exploitation techniques.