CVE-2025-14765 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 12/17/2025
Use after free in WebGPU in Google Chrome prior to 143.0.7499.147 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's WebGPU implementation that could enable remote code execution through malicious web pages. The flaw exists within the browser's graphics processing capabilities, specifically affecting the WebGPU API which provides low-level access to graphics hardware for web applications. The vulnerability arises when the browser fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation during WebGPU operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate freed memory locations. Such memory corruption issues are particularly dangerous because they can lead to arbitrary code execution when malicious actors exploit the freed memory references. The Chromium security team classified this issue as high severity due to its potential for remote exploitation and the privileged nature of graphics processing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the WebGPU subsystem where objects are freed from memory but references to those objects remain accessible to the application. When a WebGPU object is destroyed, the memory it occupied becomes available for reuse, but if the application continues to reference that memory location, it creates a use-after-free scenario. Attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that trigger specific WebGPU operations, causing the browser to allocate and deallocate memory in predictable patterns. This allows attackers to overwrite freed memory with malicious data, potentially redirecting execution flow or corrupting critical data structures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because WebGPU operates at a low level with direct hardware access, making it more susceptible to exploitation than higher-level web APIs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. This presents significant risks to users who browse the internet, as the attack vector requires only a malicious webpage to be loaded, making it highly effective for phishing campaigns or drive-by downloads. The exploitability of this issue is enhanced by the fact that WebGPU is increasingly being used by modern web applications for graphics-intensive tasks, increasing the attack surface. Organizations using Chrome browsers for business operations face potential data breaches, system compromise, and lateral movement opportunities for attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability. The heap corruption aspect means that attackers could potentially manipulate critical browser components or even escalate privileges to the operating system level.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 143.0.7499.147 or later where the memory management issues have been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Network-based protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense, though they cannot prevent exploitation of this specific vulnerability. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to WebGPU-related activity and implement robust endpoint detection and response capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes use-after-free conditions, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script injection, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures and restricting WebGPU access to trusted domains only. Regular security assessments of web applications that utilize WebGPU should be conducted to identify potential misuse of this functionality.