CVE-2025-4609 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/23/2025
Incorrect handle provided in unspecified circumstances in Mojo in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 136.0.7103.113 allowed a remote attacker to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a malicious file. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-4609 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw within Google Chrome's Mojo framework on Windows systems. This issue stems from improper handle management in unspecified circumstances, creating a pathway for remote attackers to bypass Chrome's security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to Chrome 136.0.7103.113, indicating that the flaw existed in the Mojo component's handling of system resources and inter-process communication mechanisms. The Mojo framework serves as Chrome's primary IPC system for communication between browser processes and is fundamental to the browser's security architecture. When handles are incorrectly managed, they can provide unauthorized access to system resources that should remain restricted within the sandboxed environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves improper handle validation and management within Chrome's Mojo implementation, which operates under the chromium security severity classification of High. This suggests that the flaw allows for privilege escalation or system compromise through a remote attack vector. The vulnerability's exploitation potential stems from how the system handles file operations and process isolation, particularly when dealing with malicious files that trigger the faulty handle management code path. The unspecified circumstances indicate that the vulnerability may manifest under specific conditions related to file access patterns, process creation, or resource allocation within the Windows operating system environment. This type of flaw typically relates to improper resource management and can result in unauthorized access to system resources that should remain isolated from the browser's sandboxed processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-4609 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines Chrome's security model through sandbox escape capabilities. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the target system with elevated privileges, bypassing the protections that separate browser processes from the underlying operating system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Chrome's widespread usage and the privileged nature of the sandbox escape that this vulnerability enables. The vulnerability's potential for remote exploitation means that attackers could compromise systems simply by persuading users to open malicious files or navigate to compromised websites. This type of vulnerability aligns with attack patterns categorized under the attack technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, where sandbox escape serves as a critical prerequisite for deeper system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-4609 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Chrome 136.0.7103.113 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the improper handle management in the Mojo framework. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to ensure all Chrome installations are updated across their environments. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file access controls, monitoring for unusual process behavior, and maintaining up-to-date endpoint protection solutions that can detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a sandbox escape issue also necessitates network-level monitoring for suspicious file transfers and access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially malicious files, particularly those that might trigger the vulnerable code path within the Mojo framework. This vulnerability type is particularly relevant to CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization) and CWE-367 (Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use) classifications, which address improper resource handling and synchronization issues that can lead to privilege escalation and sandbox bypass scenarios.