CVE-2025-7657 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2025
Use after free in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 138.0.7204.157 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 • 07/16/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the WebRTC implementation within Google Chrome browsers prior to version 138.0.7204.157. The issue manifests when the browser processes maliciously crafted HTML pages that trigger improper memory management during WebRTC session handling. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, specifically addressing use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential for heap corruption and arbitrary code execution. The Chromium security severity classification of High indicates the substantial risk this vulnerability poses to user systems, particularly given the widespread use of Chrome as a primary web browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of WebRTC's memory allocation and deallocation processes. When a malicious webpage triggers a WebRTC session that involves specific media handling operations, the underlying memory management code fails to properly track object lifecycles. This creates a scenario where freed memory blocks are still referenced or accessed by subsequent operations, leading to heap corruption that can be leveraged by remote attackers. The flaw typically involves the interaction between WebRTC's peer connection establishment and media stream processing components where memory objects are prematurely deallocated while still being referenced by callback functions or asynchronous operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it enables remote code execution capabilities that can be exploited through web-based attacks. Attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that, when loaded in affected Chrome versions, trigger the use-after-free condition and potentially gain control over the victim's system. This represents a significant threat vector for phishing campaigns, drive-by download attacks, and other web-based exploitation techniques that rely on browser vulnerabilities. The attack surface is particularly broad given that WebRTC functionality is commonly used in modern web applications for video conferencing, real-time communication, and media streaming services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 138.0.7204.157 or later, where the memory management issues have been addressed through proper object lifecycle handling and memory deallocation procedures. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, restricting WebRTC functionality in enterprise environments, and employing browser hardening techniques that limit the attack surface for potentially malicious web content. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of continuous security monitoring and vulnerability assessment programs to identify and remediate similar memory corruption issues in complex software components like WebRTC implementations. This particular flaw demonstrates the critical nature of memory safety in modern web browsers and reinforces the need for rigorous code review processes and automated security testing for complex multimedia frameworks.