CVE-2025-2136 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2025
Use after free in Inspector in Google Chrome prior to 134.0.6998.88 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Inspector component of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 134.0.6998.88. The flaw manifests when the browser processes specially crafted HTML content that triggers improper memory management within the debugging and inspection interfaces. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free errors where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential for arbitrary code execution. The Chromium security team has classified this as a medium severity issue, though the potential for remote code execution makes it particularly concerning for threat actors who could leverage this vulnerability in zero-day attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious web page triggers the Inspector module to access memory that has already been deallocated. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially full system compromise. The Inspector component in Chrome provides developers with debugging capabilities and is accessible through various user interactions, making it a prime target for exploitation. Attackers could craft HTML pages containing malicious JavaScript or DOM manipulations that cause the Inspector to reference freed memory locations, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser instability, as it could enable remote attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks or deliver malware payloads. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to bypass security boundaries, execute malicious code, or gain access to sensitive user data. The medium severity classification does not diminish the potential for exploitation in real-world scenarios, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities or when targeting specific user populations. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality and could be leveraged in phishing campaigns or drive-by download attacks where users are unknowingly exposed to malicious content through compromised websites or email attachments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 134.0.6998.88 or later, as this resolves the underlying memory management issues within the Inspector module. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to block access to known malicious domains. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary debugging features, implementing strict content security policies, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all systems can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1211 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities, making it relevant to defensive strategies focused on preventing code execution and memory-based attacks. Regular security assessments and monitoring for exploitation attempts should be conducted to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability in the wild.